BEIJING -- The Chinese government has earmarked 120 million yuan ($19.14 million) to fight drought in west China, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

The funds will go to the provinces of Yunnan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei and Sichuan, a ministry statement said.

In these areas there is both not enough water in most rivers or water conservancy projects.

About 4.97 million people in Yunnan have been affected by drought since winter, provincial authorities said on March 9. The drought in Yunnan has been persistent and severe, with only 13.4mm of rainfall in the first two months of 2013, about 64 percent less than the annual average for the period.

Due to the lack of precipitation, water is no longer flowing in 134 medium and small rivers in Yunnan, and 138 of its small reservoirs have dried up.

The provincial water resources department has allocated 230 million yuan in drought relief funds. It has sent devices for digging wells and pumping water to alleviate the drinking water shortage.