BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China Thursday allocated 1.039 billion yuan (157 million U.S. dollars) for areas hit by natural disasters last year.

The relief funds, jointly allocated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, will be used for disaster survivors to buy food, clothes, quilts and heating devices.

A Ministry of Civil Affairs statement said local finance and civil affairs authorities have been ordered to publicly disclose relevant information.

In 2010, several natural disasters hit China, including the 7.1-magnitude Yushu earthquake that left 2,200 people dead and the Zhouqu mudslide that left 1,700 people dead or missing.

On Nov. 18, 2010, the two ministries jointly allocated 4.1 billion yuan (617 million U.S. dollars) to help natural disaster survivors pass the winter.