Norway, Vietnam and UNDP join hands to tackle waste and plastic pollution
	UNDP donates 20,000 medical masks to help Vietnam fight against COVID-19
	UNDP supports USD185,000 to help the Mekong Delta cope with drought and saline intrusion

Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam (L), holds a sign that says 1,300 water tanks and 1,300 pieces of personal protective equipment for households in southern Vietnam in response to Covid-19 – Photo: UNDP Vietnam

On 14th June, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Embassy of Japan in Ha Noi announced the provision of basic support to poor and vulnerable households in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces for the prevention of COVID-19. This support includes the provision of 1,300 packages of personal protective equipment and 1,300 water tanks for storage of clean water, reported the recent UNDP's press release.

This initiative is part of the generous financial support from the people of Japan under the Japan Supplementary Budget (COVID-19) to 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Viet Nam. UNDP is responsible for technical support and overall management and delivery of this support.

According to the most recent UNDP assessment of the multiple impacts of COVID-19 and droughts in Southern regions (South Central Coastal and Mekong Delta) the poor, near-poor and vulnerable households, including small holder farmers and informal workers, are among the most affected.

The UNDP’s study revealves that the combination of COVID-19 and drought/saltwater intrusion reduced household-level revenues by 55 percent. An average of 54 percent of households in Bac Lieu, Binh Thuan and Ca Mau faced extreme impacts caused by the combined impacts of COVID-19 and drought/saltwater intrusion. Poor households spent significantly more on water, electricity, and food during COVID-19 social distancing period; some had to sell their livestock.

Poor households in Vietnam's southern and central regions are suffering from water shortage. Photo: VNExpress

As a result, the poor and near-poor currently have limited ability to provide for the basic needs of their families including their ability to prevent COVID-19. They lack resources to procure water storage or hygiene items that are essential for protection against COVID-19.

“We are delighted to work closely with the Embassy of Japan and the Government of Viet Nam to provide some of the urgent COVID 19 protection needs for vulnerable, poor people in three provinces. This support is part of an integrated response to enable vulnerable households to meet their basic needs as they recover from the pandemic and ensure no one is left behind.’ said Ms Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam.”

"It is our pleasure to be a part of the effort　to　provide　basic　requirements　for　the　prevention　of　COVID-19.　We　hope　that　our　contributions will be used to help vulnerable households affected by COVID-19 and to make a real difference, especially, in three provinces in Viet Nam" said the embassy of Japan in Viet Nam.

Over the past months during the COVID-19 pandamic, Japan granted ¥20 million (US$1.8 million) in medical supplies to the Southeast Asian nation, according to Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. He spoke highly of the drastic measures deployed by Viet Nam in the fight against the pandemic, expressing thanks to the Government of Viet Nam for having taken care of and ensured safety for 20,000 Japanese living and working in Viet Nam. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh appreciated the assistance from the Government and people of Japan to Viet Nam to curb the spread of the virus. As the current ASEAN Chair, Viet Nam has been working actively to coordinate and accelerate ASEAN’s joint efforts as well as cooperation between the bloc and partners in response to the pandemic. Both sides underlined the importance of international collaboration in this fight through sharing of information and experience, manufacturing of vaccines and medical equipment and citizen protection among others. (Source: VGP News) Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh talked on the phone with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on March 31, 2020. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

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