China Dries Up

Posted on Mar 21, 2010

Al-Jazeera English

A peasant from a village near the town of Yiliang in China’s Yunnan province carries water from a distant well.

A drought in southwestern China, where it has not rained in more than five months, is putting a damper on the lives of 50 million people, while costing the national economy $3 billion and leaving more than 20 million people without enough potable water.

The drought is the worst in 60 years and speaks to both climate change as well as rising demand for water. —JCL

Al-Jazeera English:

More than 50 million people in southwestern China are being affected by the worst drought in 60 years.

In some places, it is the worst drought in a century, and forecasters see no sign of it abating soon.

State media says the drought has cost the national economy nearly $3bn and left more than 20 million people without adequate access to drinking water.

The five-month dry spell has drastically affected the autonomous region of Guangxi, the megacity of Chongqing, and the province of Sichuan.

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