Red Cross societies of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and of its capital, Nanning, allocated disaster relief materials to the flood-stricken region.

Some 120 tons of rice, more than 200 chests of clothes and 1,000 quilts were sent to the flood-ravaged Pingnan, Xiangzhou, Tengxian, Xincheng, Yongfu and Liuzhou.

Severe floods plagued Guangxi from June 18 to 27, claiming 54 lives and damaging 45,000 houses and nearly 410,000 hectares of farmland. More than eight million people were affected and direct economic loss of more than seven billion yuan (US$843 million) was incurred. Major rivers in the autonomous region such as Guijiang, Liujiang, Qianjiang, and Xijiang have all been flooded.

Prior to the recent allocation, the regional Red Cross society sent relief materials of one million yuan (US$120,482) worth to the above-mentioned areas.

Other organizations that have sent relief funds and materials included the Red Cross Society of China with relief materials of 1.2 million yuan, or US$144,578 worth, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the American Red Cross with relief materials of US$110,000 worth.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2005)