20090829 Premier urges to combat drought

clipped from www.chinadaily.com.cn BEIJING: As severe drought ravages China's northern areas and begins to extend southward, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for greater efforts to deal with the situation and ensure good harvests. devastated by drought in Aohan banner of Chifeng, in north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, August 28, 2009. [Xinhua] Wen said long-lingering drought in major agricultural regions greatly harmed production, so governments should make all out efforts to utilize irrigation facilities and reduce losses. Wen urged local governments to ensure water supplies to people and livestock in drought-hit areas, and channel funds to farmers affected by drought, to ensure their livelihoods.