21.59 bln yuan allocated to needy Chinese

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of 21.59 billion yuan (3.44 billion U.S. dollars) is to be allocated in the coming weeks to more than 89 million poverty-stricken people in China's urban and rural areas, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) announced on Thursday.

The money, funded by the central finance, will be allocated before Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year.

Approved by the State Council, the allowance provision will be carried out by the MCA and the Ministry of Finance.