Drought-hit Mekong provinces receive aid

March 22, 2016 - 09:00

Hà Nội’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front has decided to give VNĐ19 billion (US$851,000) to victims of drought and saltwater intrusion in 19 Central Highlands, southern and Mekong River Delta provinces.

Hà Nội’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front has decided to give VNĐ19 billion (US$851,000) to victims of drought and saltwater intrusion in 19 Central Highlands, southern and Mekong River Delta provinces. — Photo congluan.vn

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — Hà Nội’s Việt Nam Fatherland Front has decided to give VNĐ19 billion (US$851,000) to victims of drought and saltwater intrusion in 19 Central Highlands, southern and Mekong River Delta provinces.

The money will come from the city’s relief fund and will be transferred to the provincial relief funds.

Đắc Lắc, Đắc Nông, Khánh Hòa and Ninh Thuận, besides Bình Thuận, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lâm Đồng, as well as Long An, Tiền Giang, Vĩnh Long and Kiên Giang, in addition to Trà Vinh, Bến Tre, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau, as also Sóc Trăng, Phú Yên and Cần Thơ will receive VNĐ1 billion ($44,800) each.

These provinces have been experiencing a long and intense drought since last year as a result of the El Nino phenomenon, one of the strongest in decades.

Drought and saltwater intrusion have seriously affected farming and the lives of people in the regions.

About 180,000ha of rice, crops and trees in Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Kon Tum and Lâm Đồng, besides Gia Lai provinces faced water shortage, the agriculture and rural development ministry said.

Bình Thuận Province, the worst affected by the extreme weather, has lost more than 15,000ha of paddy fields, or about 40 per cent of the province’s total, due to water shortages.

The Việt Nam Red Cross has already released more than VNĐ4.2 billion (US$188,000) as emergency aid to help the affected families in 11 provinces.

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