The drought in some parts of Yunnan Province in southwest China persisted due to less rainfall and water inflow since last winter, according to the Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday.

Though the ongoing drought has affected some 703,000 people in 13 cities and prefectures of Yunnan, there is a sufficient water supply for people in cities and rural areas.

The Ministry of Water Resources has dispatched the working group twice before and after the Spring Festival to inspect the drought condition and guide the work of ensuring urban and rural water supply and spring agricultural production water.

It coordinated the additional issuance of national debt funds to support Yunnan in building 20 medium-sized reservoirs and 47 small reservoirs. The ministry also arranged for transforming 27 irrigation districts, which is estimated to increase over 66,667 hectares of restored irrigated area.

(Cover image via CFP)