Donations from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) to snow disaster regions totaled 37.09 million yuan (US$5.28 million) by the end of February, the organization said.

CFPA is the country's non-governmental poverty reduction organization.

The donations of goods and cash helped about 100,000 people in the country's southern and central areas.

According to He Daofeng, deputy director of CFPA, the donations were channeled directly to more than 70 counties in eight provinces and regions, including Guizhou, Hunan, Anhui, Hubei and Guangxi, which were badly hit by severe winter weather.

By the end of February, CFPA had received 46.73 million yuan worth of funds and goods, and the remaining donations would also be sent to needy regions.

The organization called for further public donations to help complete the reconstruction and restoration in stricken areas. The worst winter storms in 50 years brought long periods of cold, heavy snow and freezing rain to 19 provinces, killing 129 people and causing 151.65 billion yuan in losses.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)