The central government has allocated Rmb1.3bn to help with drought-relief efforts in China’s southwest regions, the Ministry of Finance stated.

The money will be spent on guaranteeing drinking water and building irrigation facilities in the provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan, Chongqing municipality and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

A severe and persistent drought in the region started in June, and has left more than 12.6m people short of drinking water and parched vast areas of farmland.