A severe drought has affected 170 million mu (11.33 million hectares) of crops in China, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said Monday.

Among the total affected crops, 62.99 million mu suffered serious drought and 16.08 million mu dried up, according to the headquarters.

About 3.9 million people and about 4.37 million livestock had difficulties getting water.

Local governments have been fighting drought to ensure water supply for residents and for crops growth.

About 6.82 million people had participated in drought-fighting as of Aug. 10 in worst-hit areas of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as well as Jilin, Shanxi and Liaoning provinces.

About 340,000 automobiles had been put into use to transport water as of Aug. 10, according to the headquarters.

The western part of Liaoning Province received light rain Sunday night, the first for almost two months, and local meteorological department made artificial rain following the light rain to relieve drought.

Authorities in Inner Mongolia made artificial rain for more than 1,000 times as the region saw the worst drought in the recent five decades. Officials also helped residents to find more water sources and build more water-saving and irrigation projects.

"We are a family of five. I raise 960 sheep, 44 cattle, 120 horses and 40 camels. Now we have difficulties getting water," Hari Benjin, a villager in Chaoge Ondor Township, Inner Mongolia, told Xinhua Monday. "We could keep pumping water from the well for several hours before, but now it dries up after six to eights of pumping."

Drought quickly expanded through northern and northeastern China since late July, as a result of insufficient rainfall and continued high temperatures.

The hard-hit areas are China's main grain production bases and the drought might threaten autumn harvest as it is a crucial season for crop growth, said Zhang Xu, an official with the headquarters.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2009)