The central government has allocated 165 million yuan (US$21.7 million) relief funds to five provinces that encountered severe natural calamities this month, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on Monday.

The ministry will distribute the aid to Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Shandong provinces, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.

Between August 9-12, eastern and southern parts of Shandong, in east China, experienced torrential floods and reported 26 deaths. On August 19, a tropical storm swept through Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, killing 36 people and causing heavy financial losses.

Governments of different levels have been trying hard to help affected people in these provinces restore normal life, according to the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2007)