The central government has added 300 million yuan ($44 million) to 100 million yuan of emergency funding for measures to help those in regions hit by a severe drought, the authorities said yesterday.

Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu held a state conference yesterday to boost relief work in affected regions, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The State Council also sent several teams of specialists to eight drought-hit regions to aid residents with technical expertise and relief supplies yesterday, Xinhua reported.