A farmer stands on a rimose paddyfield in Guihua Town of Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province,Aug. 8, 2006. Nearly 1.1 million hectares of farmland of the province have been affected, and 2.39 million people as well as 3.04 million heads of livestock are facing a shortage of drinking water due to drought.[Xinhua Photo]

Firemen provide water for villagers in the suburbs of Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 8, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]

Villagers go a long way to fetch water because of drought in Baixiang Village of Guihua Town of Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province Aug. 8, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]