Villagers dig ditches to channel irrigation water into the crop field to alleviate drought in Qiangongping town, Fenghuang county of Central China's Hunan province, August 29, 2009. A fast-spreading drought has decreased drinking water supplies for nearly 7 million people and damaged crops in central and northern China. [Xinhua]

Villagers collect drinking water distributed by local government in drought-hit Qiangongping town, Fenghuang county of Central China's Hunan province, August 29, 2009. [Xinhua]

Villagers line up to collect drinking water distributed by local government in drought-hit Qiangongping town, Fenghuang county of Central China's Hunan province, August 29, 2009. [Xinhua]

A farmer in Wengniute Banner in north China's Inner Mongolia takes a close look at his dried-out field of crops in the drought-hit region on August 20, 2009. The drought is being described as the area's most severe for 100 years. [Asianewsphoto]

A villager looks at her dried-out paddy field in Qiangongping town, Fenghuang county of Central China's Hunan province, August 29, 2009. [Xinhua]