According to United Nations’ statistics, around 1.9 billion people live in areas where water is already scarce and globally 2.1 billion people live without safe water. More concerning, over 663 million people around the world are living without a safe water supply close to home.
Themed ‘Water for all - Leaving no one behind’, the World Water Day 2019 aims to guarantee the sustainable management of and access to water and sanitation for all, which is clearly stated in the Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Addressing the meeting, MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that, over the past few years, the Vietnamese Party and State have promulgated many guidelines and policies and worked out a range of solutions to enhance the effective management, exploitation and use of water resources, while protecting the environment in order to ensure people’s health as well as their access to water and sanitation, particularly those living in remote, mountainous areas and sea and island regions.
To realise the target of ‘Water for all’, the Minster called on its partners and international organisations to join hands with the Vietnamese Government, the MONRE, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in protecting shared water resources in the most effective way.
On the occasion, the MONRE announced the launch of the Vietnam International Water Week - “Vietnam Water Cooperation Initiative” (VACI) 2019. Focusing on ‘Smart Water Solutions’, the event aims to boost exchanges and sharing of experience, initiatives, and lesson learnt from sustainable development of water resources in today’s context of climate change.
