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The Union of Friendship Organizations of Ca Mau province in coordination with Save the Children International - Representative Office in Vietnam on October 11 held a ceremony to launch the emergency relief project for households in difficult circumstances and schools affected by the drought in 2024 in U Minh district.

Accordingly, the project supports 390 households in difficulty and 11 schools in 4 communes in the buffer zone, along the forest of U Minh Ha National Park affected by drought in U Minh district that have not received similar support from other units and organizations, including Khanh An, Nguyen Phich, Khanh Lam and Khanh Thuan.

Representatives of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Ca Mau province, the People's Committee of U Minh district and Save the Children Vietnam presented cash gifts to households at the Cultural Center of Khanh An commune, U Minh district.

The total expected value of the distribution to households and schools is over VND 1.8 billion (USD 72.500), sponsored by Save the Children. In which, the total amount expected to be allocated to households to purchase and equip necessary items to recover from drought and respond when drought occurs is VND 1.1 billion (USD 44.300) and 11 schools to invest in purchasing water storage equipment so that students have enough water to use during drought is VND 715 million (USD 28.807).

The goal of the aid is to help children, families and schools affected by the 2024 drought in U Minh district to increase their ability to respond to drought and natural disasters through an emergency cash support package.

Previously, in May 2024, Save the Children in coordination with the Ca Mau Union of Friendship Organizations also implemented a cash support package for poor, near-poor, and those in difficult circumstances affected by the 2024 drought in Tran Van Thoi district.

The prolonged drought in the Mekong Delta has severely impacted water sources for daily life and agricultural production. Additionally, travel has become more challenging due to dry canals, preventing boat transportation and forcing households to spend more on transportation to buy water and other necessities.

In response, the People's Committee of Ca Mau Province issued Decision No. 719/QD-UBND on April 10, 2024, declaring a level 2 drought emergency in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts. According to the above decision, the prolonged drought has caused the water level under the canals and streams in the freshwater area of ​​U Minh district to drop to a low level; most of the canals and streams in the freshwater area of ​​Tran Van Thoi have dried up. In Tran Van Thoi district, the drought has led to subsidence and landslides at 601 locations of more than 132 canals and streams, with a total length of 15,890m. In U Minh district, subsidence and landslides have also appeared due to drought.

In addition, according to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on April 6, 2024 on the direction and management of drought and saltwater intrusion prevention and control to ensure water sources for agricultural production and people's lives in the Mekong Delta, 3,900 households are lacking domestic water in Ca Mau province (U Minh, Thoi Binh, Tran Van Thoi districts).

The prolonged drought has also affected the domestic water source of households, of which children are one of the most affected groups.

The cash grants help drought-affected households have more resources to pay for daily living expenses, thereby contributing to ensuring the health of the family, especially the health and education of children. In addition, schools are also heavily affected by drought, leading to a lack of clean water for students. The aid will also support schools to upgrade and improve water supply systems so that students have clean water to use, especially during the dry season.

According to the Ca Mau Union of Friendship Organizations, from 2010 to present, Save the Children has supported Ca Mau in implementing 16 projects, with a total aid value of more than VND 80 billion (USD 3.220), disbursement reaching 100%. These projects focus on supporting children; maternal and newborn health care; improving community capacity and livelihoods for people to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

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