Beijing, August 1 (IANS): A drought that has lingered since June has affected 27.11 million people in 11 provincial-level areas across China, the ministry of civil affairs said Thursday.

The drought has caused drinking water shortages for 5.1 million residents and incurred direct economic losses of about $1.99 billion, Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

Of those affected people, 21.2 million live in Hunan and Guizhou provinces, the government said.

The drought has also left 1.56 million livestock short of drinking water while affected about 2.6 million hectares of crops.
 A drought that has lingered since June has affected 27.11 million people in 11 provincial-level areas across China, the ministry of civil affairs said Thursday.

The drought has caused drinking water shortages for 5.1 million residents and incurred direct economic losses of about $1.99 billion, Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

Of those affected people, 21.2 million live in Hunan and Guizhou provinces, the government said.

The drought has also left 1.56 million livestock short of drinking water while affected about 2.6 million hectares of crops.