Almost 10 million hectares of crops have been damaged across northern China as a severe winter drought continues. The harsh weather has left four million people and two-million livestock with no access to drinking water.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has sent four teams to the eight crop-producing provinces that have been hit the hardest, including Hebei, Henan and Shaanxi.

Some areas have seen no rain the entire winter, but water resources are being integrated to ensure equal distribution. The Ministry of Finance has allocated 100-million yuan in emergency funding to help farmers get through the drought.

(CCTV February 3, 2009)