Providing financial assistance to Mekong Delta residents affected by drought and saltwater intrusion

The program initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam, aims to alleviate the impact of drought and saltwater intrusion on vulnerable households in the Mekong Delta region, particularly in Ca Mau province. The recent visit and cash distribution event in Khanh An commune, U Minh district, marked a significant step in this endeavor.

The visit was attended by key stakeholders, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep, and Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim, Chief Representative of FAO in Vietnam. Various representatives from governmental departments, local authorities, and community organizations also participated, demonstrating a collaborative effort to address the challenges faced by the affected communities.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep highlighted the severity of the situation caused by El Niño, emphasizing the adverse effects on socio-economic activities and people's livelihoods. He reiterated the government's commitment to implementing preventive measures outlined in Directive No. 11/CT-TTg, issued on April 1, 2024. This directive aims to mitigate the impact of heat, drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

The decision to provide cash support to over 1,000 households in four communes reflects a proactive approach to assist those in need. Despite the modest amount, each household will receive support to help alleviate their immediate challenges. Importantly, the initiative intends not only to address immediate needs but also to empower communities to respond effectively to natural disasters and enhance resilience.

Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim, Chief Representative of FAO in Vietnam

Furthermore, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized the government's commitment to regional cooperation, citing the implementation of the Ha Long Ministerial Statement on The Strengthening of ASEAN Anticipatory Actions in Disaster Management. This declaration, endorsed by ASEAN countries in October 2023, underscores the importance of early action and collaborative efforts in disaster management.

Overall, the visit and cash distribution event underscore the government's dedication to supporting vulnerable communities, fostering resilience, and implementing regional initiatives to address the challenges posed by natural disasters.

Here is the detailed information on the activation of the cash support package for people affected by drought and saltwater intrusion:

Khanh An commune, U Minh district:
- Number of beneficiary households (HHL): 290
- Gender breakdown: 520 males, 525 females
- Funding for phase 1: 786,000,000 VND
- Total funding for 2 phases: 1,572,000,000 VND
Khanh Thuan commune, U Minh district:
- Number of beneficiary households (HHL): 346
- Gender breakdown: 759 males, 759 females
- Funding for phase 1: 987,000,000 VND
- Total funding for 2 phases: 1,974,000,000 VND
Khanh Hung commune, Tran Van Thoi district:
- Number of beneficiary households (HHL): 164
- Gender breakdown: 313 males, 357 females
- Funding for phase 1: 437,000,000 VND
- Total funding for 2 phases: 874,000,000 VND
Bien Bach commune, Thoi Binh district:
- Number of beneficiary households (HHL): 201
- Gender breakdown: 358 males, 370 females
- Funding for phase 1: 535,000,000 VND
- Total funding for 2 phases: 1,070,000,000 VND

The cash support package activation activities were conducted across 4 communes and 3 districts in Ca Mau province. The total budget allocated for the program is 5,490,000,000 VND, which is divided into two phases, taking place in April and May 2024. The amount of support provided to each household depends on the number of people in the household, with the limit ranging from 1 million VND to 3 million VND per installment.

Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province

Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, expressed gratitude during the activation program, acknowledging the severity of the drought situation and the significant impact it has had on the province. He highlighted the concerted efforts made by Ca Mau province, mobilizing resources and engaging the entire political system and community to implement various measures, both non-structural and structural, to address the challenges posed by the drought.

Despite these efforts, Mr. Le Van Su emphasized the magnitude of the drought's impact, particularly on vulnerable households in the province. He noted that Ca Mau, given its extensive area, has been heavily affected, and the resources available internally are insufficient to adequately respond to the crisis. Therefore, the financial support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) holds significant value and arrives at a crucial time.

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee, local authorities, and the households benefiting from the support, Mr. Le Van Su extended sincere appreciation to FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for their attention and assistance to Ca Mau province. He emphasized that this support serves as a vital source of encouragement and solidarity, demonstrating the concern and companionship of international organizations and central ministries in helping the province navigate through natural disasters and adapt to climate change.

*Information about the Project "Increasing Capacities and Scale for Anticipatory Action including through Social Protection Systems"

Since 2022, the VDDMA (formerly VNDMA) has closely coordinated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Vietnam to implement Currently the technical assistance project "Increasing Capacities and Scale for Anticipatory Action including through Social Protection Systems". This is a regional project involving 5 countries, including Vietnam. The Project component in Vietnam has a total estimated budget of about 1.7 million USD from the non-refundable ODA capital of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). through FAO. In Vietnam, FAO coordinates with VDDMA and the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control at all levels and provinces to develop an Anticipatory Action procedure and promote integration into Vietnam's disaster prevention and control plan.

The project has a specific goal to protect livelihoods, food security and ensure nutrition for vulnerable households in rural areas by predicting the impacts of natural disasters, using unified approach in deploying humanitarian assistance, strengthening governance and proactiveness in natural disaster risk reduction in Vietnam, including connecting and supporting the system national social protection. This will enhance the resilience and recovery of vulnerable households in rural areas, while protecting the achievements of socio-economic development in the face of natural disasters.

The project implementation area is a number of central coastal provinces with natural disasters such as storms and floods (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Phu Yen), Gia Lai province with drought. and the Mekong Delta region (Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang) with drought and saltwater intrusion.

The project has achieved several notable activities and results:

Consultation and Survey: Engaged with local authorities to identify appropriate early actions for various types of natural disasters in different regions.
Workshops and Training Courses: Successfully organized workshops and training courses at national, regional, provincial, and commune levels to enhance awareness and capacity among officials in disaster prevention and control.
Research and Testing: Conducted research on ecosystem activation thresholds and developed early action implementation processes based on storm, flood, drought, and saltwater intrusion forecasts.
Early Action Implementation: Implemented early action drills and provided support to households in vulnerable areas before anticipated disasters, such as storms and floods in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces.
Integration with Social Protection System: Explored the integration of early action with the social protection system and piloted this initiative in Thua Thien Hue province.
Livestock Evacuation Pilot: Piloted a camp to evacuate livestock during flooding caused by storms in certain Central region localities.
Support for Ha Long Declaration: Contributed to the development of the Ha Long Declaration aimed at enhancing early action in natural disaster management in the ASEAN region.

Moving forward, the project plans to:

Complete Early Action Implementation: Finalize the implementation process for early actions based on forecasts of storms, floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion.
Training Program Development: Develop a training program to integrate early action based on natural disaster forecasts into the government's disaster risk management initiatives.
Integration into Disaster Prevention Plans: Research and integrate early action based on natural disaster forecasts into disaster prevention and control plans at all administrative levels.
Ha Long Declaration Implementation: Develop a plan to implement the Ha Long Declaration on strengthening early action in natural disaster management specifically tailored for Vietnam.

These plans demonstrate a commitment to furthering the effectiveness of early action initiatives and integrating them into broader disaster management strategies to enhance resilience and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Home

TOP NEWS