Scientists have estimated that the 2014-2016 El Nino is expected to be as serious as the 1997-1998, and it could become one of the longest warming events ever (up to 20 months).
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) will give financial aid to 13 Mekong Delta and Central Highlands provinces to provide drought-affected residents with water for daily use.
About 2.5 million Cambodians are facing water shortages in the worst drought in a century, Vice President of the National Centre for Disaster Management Nhim Vanda said on May 5.
Nearly 18 billion VND (800,000 USD) from the State budget has helped the southernmost province of Ca Mau with recovery from the severe drought and saline intrusion.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Dinh Quy stressed the need for countries to come together to promote honest, constructive dialogue and have specific and pragmatic measures to build confidence.
Ensuring water for people’s daily lives should be the top priority in the face of the severe ongoing drought, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.
Heavy rain fell on parts of the Mekong Delta province of Long An at 16:00 pm on April 27, cooling the locality after months of intense heat and drought.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung had a working session with authorities in Bac Lieu province on April 27, concerning the condition of drought and saltwater intrusion at present.
More than 15,000 households in 14 cities and provinces who announced natural disaster status, have received initial support from the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC).
Vietnam has sent urgent appeals to international communities, asking for 48.5 million USD to deal with the impact of increasingly severe drought and saltwater intrusion caused by the El Nino.
The Mekong Delta, known for its fertility and rice fields, has been facing enormous challenges posed by climate change and upstream activities, according to environmental officials.
Residents in An Duc commune, Ba Tri district, in Ben Tre, on April 24, flocked to the communal People’s Committee Office to get drinking water under a desalination programme.
The steering committee of the Humanitarian Fund in the southeastern province of Binh Phuoc on April 20 presented 100 water tanks to residential areas suffering from drought in 2016.
Vietnam must take drastic measures to tackle drought and saline intrusion to help ensure water security and prevent the politicisation of water in the region.
Hanoi could be hit by water shortages this summer because the Da River water pipeline No.1 faced risk of re-breaking, while a second pipeline will not be finished by its scheduled deadline.
The Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control must continuously direct ministries, sectors and localities to implement measures to cope with drought and salinity.
Environment
