Over the past three days, more than 1,100 tonnes of rice sourced from the national reserves were provided to 16,818 households with a total of 74,226 people in five drought-hit districts of the south-central province of Ninh Thuan.

Illustrative image. (Source: VNA)

The provision, made at an order by the Prime Minister, aims to help those facing the risk of food shortage caused by a lingering drought in the province. Each recipient gets 15kg of the grain for use in one month.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Welfare Dang Thi Phan said relevant authorities have worked out a suitable plan for the distribution, with locals in remote areas prioritized. All the food has been distributed on a timely basis, she stressed.

Vice Chairman of Phuoc Nam commune in Thuan Nam district Ba Thanh Thanh Truong said villagers are happy to receive the aid. Over the past year, villagers cannot start their production as local water sources run dry under the impact of climate change and long drought, he said, adding that among the households, many are poor and near poor whose main source of income is agriculture./.

VNF/VNA