Central govt allocates 55 mln USD for flood victims

The central government on Wednesday allocated 340 million yuan (55.38 million US dollars) in relief funds for residents affected by floods in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

The funds will be used to help relocate flood victims, provide temporary living assistance, reconstruct buildings and give financial support to the relatives of those who died in the floods, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Rainstorms and subsequent floods that have occurred since July 7 have killed at least 36 people, left another 10 missing and affected millions of people in the provinces, according to the ministry.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs has initiated an emergency disaster relief response, with work teams dispatched to affected areas to guide relief efforts.

The central government has also sent 5,000 tents, 45,000 cotton quilts and 5,000 folding beds to disaster-hit areas.