This year, China suffered from the worst drought in 60 years, and two million more people are now living in poverty as a result. From China Daily:
The drought, which lasted for six months, has led to a direct economic loss of more than 35 billion yuan, according to the latest statistics from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA).
The latest figure came as a sharp increase from the previously announced economic loss of 23.7 billion yuan by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on March 24, as the adverse impact of the dry spell continues to spread among the affected regions.
A severe drought has swept the southwestern region, including Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Chongqing municipality, since September last year, causing drinking water shortages, crop damage and economic losses.
Although the drought has eased in most parts of the Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi since late April, it is still severe in Yunnan as the province has only received limited and scattered rainfalls.