Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Hoang Hiep today (May 27) chaired a conference on overall measures for ensuring freshwater supplies for Mekong Delta localities, amid prolonged severe drought, with the participation of representatives of UNICEF and World Bank (WB), local media reported. During the meeting, the participants reached an agreement to lengthen pipes to distribute freshwater to locals, raise capacity of water plants, and pour investment into reservoirs for water treatment establishments. The MARD official suggested localities raise awareness of residents about saving water, adding that in the long run, the ministry would team up with relevant agencies to set up irrigation projects to address water shortage for the whole region. The agencies considered building water tanks or providing water storage tools for households located far from residential areas. Localities were urged to make lists of households lacking fresh water so that the MARD can ask for the government’s middle-term capital. During dry season between 2019 and 2020, drought and saline intrusion has caused 96,000 households with 430,000 shelters to lack fresh water. (VTV, Nhan Dan, VTV, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam)
