China has earmarked 50 million yuan (US$7.35 million) of emergency fund to help south China fight the worst drought in 50 years, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday.

The money will go to the southwestern Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in restoring agriculture production and making sure people and livestocks have adequate drinking water supply, the ministry said.

The drought affected 2.91 million people and 1.48 million large livestock in Yunnan, while up to 57.5 percent of crops, or 21.24 million mu (1.42 million hectares), in the southwestern province were also affected.

In Guangxi, more than 80,000 people in Donglan County suffered water shortage, local authorities said Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2010)