BEIJING, Aug. 28 -- The ministries of finance and civil affairs have allocated 281 million yuan (45.7 million U.S. dollars) to ensure access to food and drinking water in five drought-hit provincial-level regions.

The five regions include the provinces of Liaoning, Henan, and Hubei as well as Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions, said a statement released Thursday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The statement didn't specify what amount each region would get.

Liaoning, which has suffered the most severe drought since 1951, has seen 7.07 million mu of crops (471,333 hectares) destroyed, and grain production in the province is expected to decline by 5 billion kg this year.

Liaoning's provincial government has already earmarked 592 million yuan to fight drought and is building emergency water projects.

Previously, the ministry sent special work teams to the five regions to guide local relief efforts.