EU assists Vietnamese people affected by drought and saltwater intrusion

The European Union (EU) has provided EUR60,000 in humanitarian aid funding to 24,000 people affected most by the current drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong River Delta provinces.

The serious drought in the Mekong River Delta region (Photo: thanhnien.vn)
The serious drought in the Mekong River Delta region (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

The aid money will help Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) provide safe drinking water and boost activities to improve sanitation and healthcare for households greatly affected due to the lack of clean water.

Disease prevention campaigns will be conducted to reduce the risks of water related diseases.

The funding was an important part in the EU’s general contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) under the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

In early 2020, the Mekong River Delta region, an agriculture and aquaculture centre in Vietnam, witnessed a drought caused by climate change, leading to a shortage of clean water in many areas.

The water scarcity has caused serious saline intrusion in 10 of the 13 provinces in the Mekong River Delta, which has affected the crop production of the region, which is heavily dependent on agriculture, as well as threatened food security, livelihoods and production of nearly 700,000 people.