The severe drought that began in April has affected 34.83 million people in five provinces - Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan - along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze river, Global Times reported.

The drought has led to an economic loss of 14.94 billion yuan ($2.29 billion), the ministry said.

The ministry along with the State Disaster Relief Commission has ordered a series of measures, including allocating a relief fund of 55 million yuan to Hubei and Hunan, the two hardest hit provinces.