Vietnam PM Requests Urgent Actions to Cope with Drought in Central Region

The Vietnamese prime minister has urged central localities to redouble efforts to cope with the prolonged heat wave, drought, and saltwater intrusion in the region, state media reported. The government leader has sent an urgent dispatch to the People’s Committees of coastal localities from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan, following a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The report said that 65,500 hectares of crops in the region have been facing serious drought while 138,800 households are facing water shortage. The PM urged joint efforts from ministries and agencies in the work, including the ministries of agriculture and rural development, industry and trade, natural resources and environment, information and telecommunications, health, construction, labor-invalids and social affairs, finance, and planning and investment, along with the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. (Tuoi Tre, Bao Chinh Phu, Bao Chinh Phu, VTV, Tin Tuc, Tin Tuc, BNews, Nhan Dan, Nhan Dan, NDH, baodanang, VTV, Vietnam Plus)