The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) on May 12th transported nearly 15 million litres of pure water to support people in Thuan Nam and Bac Ai districts in the central province of Ninh Thuan who have suffered from prolonged droughts.

The support came from the PV Oil Thai Binh and Coca-Cola Vietnam Companies with free transport provided by the Vietnam Railway.

Earlier, the VRC facilitated the emergency rescue of 900 poor and nearly poor ethnic minority families in the 4 provinces of Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak and Phu Yen who suffered the consequence of having no reservoirs. Accordingly, 900 plastic reservoirs worth over VND1.1 billion and 2,700 water disinfection boxes were delivered to the affected areas.

Since summer and autumn 2014, very little rain has fallen, leaving normally healthy rivers and streams bone dry. At present, the water level measured in 20 lakes surveyed is estimated to account for only 13.7% compared to the same period last year, or 52 million cubic metres lower. Shortages of water is are seriously affecting people’s life and production, forcing them to dig beyond the normal bottom of lakes and rivers to get water that is not refined. Diseases and malnutrition threaten the lives of local people if they continue to use the polluted sources of water.

The dry heat has also killed 38 hectares of rice in Thuan Bac and Ninh Hai districts and has reduced the productivity of 135 hectares of crops and 75 hectares of fruits. Meanwhile, thousands of animals are facing an end of food and water. In Thuan Thanh and Bac Ai districts, mainly inhabited by Rac Lay ethnic minorities, the residents who normally live on the returns from plantations and livestock breeding are now dependent on Government rice as a direct result of receiving no rain for almost a whole two years./.

( Compiled by VNF )