BEIJING, Dec. 24 -- The Chinese government has allocated 6.01 billion yuan (about 930 million U.S. dollars) in relief funds to help people in disaster-hit regions get through the cold winter and spring.

The poor and the disabled should be the first group to get subsidies, which are jointly allocated by the finance and civil affairs ministries, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday.

The funds are nearly 16 percent less than the 7.1 billion yuan earmarked last year. Natural disasters were fewer and milder this year, but some parts were still seriously damaged, according to the statement. The disasters mainly consisted of floods, earthquakes and typhoons.

The ministries ordered a strengthened supervision of the funds to ensure that the money reaches those in need in a timely manner.