HÀ NỘI – The Việt Nam Red Cross Society (VRCS) will provide fresh water and financial assistance during May and June to residents in the four provinces suffering from drought and saltwater intrusion.

This assistance is part of a project on emergency aid to affected people worth VNĐ4 billion (US$173,000) and funded by the International Federation of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies.

The VRCS Central Committee said the beneficiary localities are the southern provinces of Long An and Bến Tre, the central province of Ninh Thuận and the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Some 3,520 households facing water shortage will be provided with water, while 2,550 others affected by drought and saltwater intrusion will receive cash to purchase clean water and food for a period of two months.

Late last month, the Government of Việt Nam, the United Nations and its partners appealed to the international community to support a $48.5 million emergency response plan to address the worsening drought in the country.

The drought, which has hit the southern and central regions of Việt Nam, has caused water shortage affecting some two million people. Some 1.1 million people are in need of food aid, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the Mekong Delta, prolonged drought and the reduction in groundwater levels have resulted in the most extensive saltwater intrusion in 90 years into more than 400,000ha of crops with varying degrees of productivity loss. Another 25,9000ha have not been planted at all. — VNS