While heavy snow continues to hit central, eastern and southern China, welfare lottery management centers have made cash and goods donations to residents of disaster areas, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Sunday.

Centers in central Hunan Province bought biscuits, bread and mineral water valued at 40,000 yuan (US$5,560) to distribute to drivers and passengers stranded on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway. That highway, which is the southern section of China's north-south artery road, was jammed in both directions on Sunday morning as freezing rain continued falling and increased the ice build-up.

Centers in central Hubei Province bought cotton-padded coats, quilts and bed sheets valued at 1.2 million yuan to donate to 11,666 households, while centers in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region donated 500,000 yuan.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)