Biz News Flash

175m yuan relief fund allocated to flood-hit regions

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-23 09:44

BEIJING -- The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) on Wednesday allocated 175 million yuan ($26.92 million) to help victims of rain-triggered floods in Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi and Sichuan provinces.

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The MOF said in a statement on its website that the fund will be used to help relocate flood victims, provide temporary living assistance, reconstruct destroyed buildings and offer pensions to relatives of those who perished in the floods.

As of Wednesday, the central government has earmarked 340 million yuan for flood relief efforts.

Persistent downpours have wreaked havoc in southern China since June 3, leaving at least 175 dead and 86 missing and forcing nearly 1.64 million people to evacuate, the MCA said on Monday.

The fourth tropical storm of the year, Haima, which will make landfall between Wednesday night and Thursday morning in Guangdong Province, is expected to bring downpours to the southern regions.

The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Wednesday launched its tropical storm emergency response system and sent work teams to Guangdong to help with flood control.