China is taking emergency measures to make sure that  people affected by drought in northern China receive drinking water... and mothe rnature is ghelping out too - average to heavy rainfall is predicted for the next couple of days.

Officials say more than 200-thousand livestock have died due to drought in Inner Mongolia.

About 3.9 million people and about 4.37 million livestock had difficulties getting water.

In one field in northern China, farmers attempted to create precipitation artificially using a rocket launcher and anti-aircraft gun to fire chemical pellets into the sky.

Farmers are hoping the chemical pellets will create rain.

Lakes have dried up in the region, and the earth is dry and cracked.

Villagers said they have to dig deeper wells to find water.

Farmers say they have not seen a drought like this in 80 years.

Local governments are urging to expand irrigation by speeding up construction of reservoirs and wells.

EBRU NEWS