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V. Flood Control and Drought Relief

In 2005, flood and waterlogging disasters were more severe than the average level since 1992. 14.967 million ha of farmlands was affected by flood and waterlogging, 8.217 million ha damaged; 200 million people were affected and 1,660 people died; 1.53 million houses collapsed, and the direct economic losses were 166.2 billion Yuan. The provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Liaoning suffered heavily from flood disasters. Death toll caused by mountain flood accounted for 84% of the total, and the direct economic losses caused by typhoon accounted for 50% of the total.

The occurring of droughts in 2005 was less serious than the past and no large area or continuous drought happened. However, some areas in North China, Northwest and South China suffered from severe drought. In the whole country, 16 million ha of farmlands was affected by droughts, in which 8.467 million ha was damaged, 18.89 million ha farmlands with no crop, resulting in a grain yield reduction of 19.3 billion kg. Temporary drinking water difficulties occurred to 23.13 million people and 19.76 million livestock or animals in both urban and rural areas. Water shortage occurred in 76 cities. The direct economic loss caused by drought was 198.59 billion Yuan in the whole country. 

In 2005, the central government allocated 1.747 billion Yuan from the Water Construction Funds and funds for extraordinary floods and droughts, in which 290 million Yuan was from the water construction funds, 1.105 billion Yuan from the funds for extraordinary floods, and 352 million Yuan from the funds for extraordinary droughts．The governments and flood control headquarters at all levels initiated the emergency prevention plan, and took effective measures for minimizing the loss from flood and drought disasters and achieved remarkable success in flood control and drought relief.