HÀ NỘI – Some VNĐ231.5 billion (US$10.4 million) will be allocated to 11 provinces and a company for handling the problems of drought and saline intrusion, a government report has said.

The Government Office announced on Tuesday a decision signed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc saying the Dầu Tiếng-Phước Hòa Irrigation Service Ltd Company, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and 11 provinces would receive the financial support: northern Sơn La, Lai Châu, central Thừa Thiên Huế and Phú Yên, as well as Central Highlands Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng, southern Bình Phước and Long An, in addition to Sóc Trăng, Kiên Giang and Cà Mau.

The financial support was extracted from the 2016 government reserve budget for localities to cope with the aftermath of the drought and saline intrusion that affected the winter and spring crops of 2015- 2016.

The prime minister also urged the localities to actively utilise their own budget’s reserve funds and mobilise other financial sources to ensure the effectiveness of efforts to address the damage caused by natural disasters.

Earlier, in April, the government allocated VNĐ484.7 billion (US$21.7 million) to help 21 provinces tackle the consequences of drought and saline intrusion, which had affected the 2015-2016 spring-winter crops.

The funds also came from this year’s central reserve budget.

Acute drought and saltwater intrusion has severely affected more than 2 million people from different localities across Việt Nam since January this year.

The monsoon has begun, but rains are still irregular and below average.

While weather conditions are gradually improving, the impact of the drought and saltwater intrusion on the locals and their livelihoods is expected to be felt for the rest of the year and beyond, according to the latest report from the United Nations Country Team in Việt Nam.

In April, the Government of Việt Nam, with the UN, launched the Drought and Saltwater Intrusion Emergency Response Plan 2016/17, including an appeal for $48.5 million to cover immediate emergency needs. So far, 31 per cent of the requested funds have been mobilised. — VNS