The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi announced the provision of basic support to poor and vulnerable households in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces for the prevention of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked authorities in the central and Central Highlands regions to take action to deal with the prolonged heat wave, drought and saltwater intrusion.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked sectors and localities to devise plans coping with each kind of natural disasters.
The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC)’s Central Committee launched a humanitarian month on May 5 in response to World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on May 8.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has recently proposed an aid package worth VND515.3 billion (US$22 million) to deal with drought and saltwater intrusion in 2020.
An aid package of VND530 billion (over US$22.7 million) has been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to help eight provinces in the Mekong Delta deal with drought, water scarcity and saltwater intrusion, which have been taking a heavy toll on the agricultural production hub of Vietnam.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has allocated VND800 million (nearly US$34,000) to five provinces which have declared an emergency due to saltwater intrusion.
The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) Central Committee on March 18 launched a campaign to support people seriously affected by droughts and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta – the “rice bowl” of Vietnam.
Though saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta was predicted to come earlier and with higher level of salinity than that recorded in the 2015-2016 dry season, the damages to farming areas are expected to be less serious as authorities and farmers have taken measures to cope with the situation in the 2019-2020 dry season.
Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta are becoming alarming, said Prof. David Dapice, Senior Economist, Vietnam and Myanmar Programme, Harvard Kennedy School, at a meeting with leaders of Can Tho city on October 8.
The Mekong Delta, the country’s rice granary, will see summer – autumn rice output increase by 150,000 tonnes this year, the Plant Cultivation Department has estimated.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged central localities to redouble efforts to cope with the prolonged heat wave, drought and saltwater intrusion in the region.
The quality of tap water in Ho Chi Minh City is being closely monitored by production and distribution units as well as independent agencies such as the city’s Preventive Medicine Centre and district-level preventive health centres.
Various solutions for sustainable water management were raised at the Water Business Dialogues held by the Netherlands Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on April 11.
Saltwater has intruded into many coastal areas in the Mekong Delta, causing a shortage of water for households and agricultural production.
The Netherlands is keen on cooperating with the Mekong Delta region and Vietnam in general in boosting commercial agriculture growth in a manner beneficial to both humans and the environment, stated Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman on November 9.
Some 120,138 ha of rice fields affected by a lack of water and saltwater intrusion in the southern region will be used to grow other crops in 2018, according to the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is working on measures to cope with saltwater intrusion, according to the provincial Irrigation Sub-Department.
Experts recommended solutions to protect Ho Chi Minh City’s groundwater sources and public health at a dialogue on December 7.
Ho Chi Minh City wants to work with Kirloskar Brothers Limited from India in fields of mutual concern, especially in urban flood control and solutions to saltwater intrusion, said Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen.
