Baotou in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region issued a total of 195.99 million yuan ($28.65 million) in poverty relief subsidy funds in the first half of 2020, benefiting some 36,000 people, according to Inner Mongolia Daily.

The subsidy funds were given to those in need and were used for urban and rural subsistence allowances, assistance and support for the extremely poor, temporary assistance, and basic living security for orphans.

Starting from Jan 1, 2020, Baotou has comprehensively raised the size of its living allowances for urban and rural people in need, increasing the amount by 26.73 million yuan.

The standard per capita financial subsidy for urban subsistence allowances was increased by 40 yuan to reach 750 yuan per person per month; and the standard per capita financial subsidy for rural subsistence allowances increased by 604 yuan to 6,644 yuan per person per year.

The standard per capita financial subsidy for nursing expenses for extremely poor people who have completely lost their self-care ability increased by 13 yuan, reaching 1,144 yuan per person per month; and the standard per capita financial subsidy for nursing expenses for extremely poor people who have partially lost their self-care ability increased by 5 yuan, reaching 440 yuan per person per month.

Families and individuals whose basic living standards are in trouble, having been affected by the epidemic, shall -- in cases where the relevant social assistance and security systems are temporarily unable to help -- be included in the scope of temporary assistance.

As of the end of June, the government had allocated a total of 6.61 million yuan in temporary relief subsidies, benefiting 6,237 people in six banners, counties, and districts.