$366 m allocated for orphans

BEIJING - The central government has allocated 2.26 billion yuan ($365.7 million) so far this year to fund care for orphans and HIV/AIDS-infected children, the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

The funds will ensure basic living standards for 574,000 orphans and HIV/AIDS-infected children nationwide, the ministry said.

Children in east, central and west China will receive monthly subsidies of 200 yuan, 300 yuan and 400 yuan, respectively.

Official data showed that the central government spent 9.73 billion yuan from 2010 to 2013 to ensure basic living standards for orphans.

Figures released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed that China has about 615,000 orphans. Just 109,000 of them live in government-funded agencies,while the rest are cared for by relatives or private orphanages.