The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has donated more than 4 million yuan (US$530,000) to areas affected by snow-related disasters in central and southern China.

Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the ACWF, along with officials of women's federations at all levels, donated money to women and children in Anhui, Hubei and Hunan Provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Women's organizations across the country were urged to provide aid to women and children from poor families in those areas, according to a circular issued by the ACWF on Tuesday.

Heavy snow had killed 24 people and affected 77.86 million people in 14 provinces, including Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan, by 2 PM Monday. The China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert early that day for severe snowstorms in the central and eastern parts of the country.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2008)