Nearly 400 government officials have been punished for embezzlement or misuse of poverty alleviation funds, the top anti-graft watchdog said on Sunday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said 388 people in 20 provinces and regions, including Beijing and Shanxi and Fujian provinces had received administrative or criminal penalties.

All were officials with poverty alleviation authorities at the provincial, city or county level, and half were department directors, the CCDI said.