Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia face water shortage

World Today

In Sanyuan county of Shaanxi province, the only water source has dried up. For villagers, access to safe drinking water is an issue.

Months without rainfall have emptied the water cellars of most families. Even if there is some left, its quality is too poor to drink. A year without harvest has been predicted. Usually this is the time when corn is ready for harvesting. But this year the story is very different.

Local authorities have dug eight wells, which barely meet the demands of 200,000 people in the county.

In Tongliao city, monitoring data is showing an increase in the number of locusts. With more than 17 million kilograms (34 million pounds) of crops eaten by the bugs, there are just a few left.

Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia face worst of problem

In Sanyuan county of Shaanxi province, the only water source has dried up this week. For villagers, access to safe drinking water is a big issue.