<p>Nearly 24 million people have been affected by drought in China's various provinces since last October while causing a big financial loss to the government, authorities said Thursday. <br /><br />The drought has affected 23.7 million people living in Yunnan, Gansu and Sichuan provinces till date, causing economic losses of more than $1.1 billion, Xinhua quoted civil affairs authorities as saying Thursday.<br /><br />The National Disaster Reduction Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs initiated an emergency response to the drought Thursday and sent work teams to aid in disaster relief.</p>.<p>The NDRC has also organised meetings to analyse the causes of drought and work out relief measures.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Nearly 24 million people have been affected by drought in China's various provinces since last October while causing a big financial loss to the government, authorities said Thursday. <br /><br />The drought has affected 23.7 million people living in Yunnan, Gansu and Sichuan provinces till date, causing economic losses of more than $1.1 billion, Xinhua quoted civil affairs authorities as saying Thursday.<br /><br />The National Disaster Reduction Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Civil Affairs initiated an emergency response to the drought Thursday and sent work teams to aid in disaster relief.</p>.<p>The NDRC has also organised meetings to analyse the causes of drought and work out relief measures.<br /><br /></p>