An elder peasant squats beside a disappearing pond due to severe drought in the Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, February 23, 2010. Over 1.53 million people and 756 thousand of livestock fall short of water due to long-term lack of rainfall. 4.17 million mu of crops by Tuesday are affected, with 2.65 million mu seriously damaged and 300 thousand mu destroyed completely in the province. [Xinhua photo]