World Vision allocates US$ 60,000 to help poor children and people in Binh Thuan cope with severe drought

(Ha Noi 6 May, 2016) – Vulnerable children and poor people in the southern province of Binh Thuan, who have been suffering the country’s worst drought in nearly a century, are supported by World Vision to overcome the crisis. The initial response is worth about US$ 60,000, focusing on the provision of drinking water and domestic water supply facilities.

To date, more than 3,000 children and adults in Ham Thuan Bac district and Bac Binh district have benefited from the support that includes clean water for 60 days (120 litres per person), water tanks, water pipes and water filters. The relief has started since late April and continues until mid-May.

“We’re seeking further funding opportunities to expand our emergency relief efforts to more drought-affected people”, says Le Van Duong, World Vision’s National Coordinator of Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs in Vietnam.

World Vision’s actions in the two districts are to respond to Vietnam’s first ever appeal for international support of around US$ 48 million in April 2016 to address the prolonged drought and saline intrusion impacts in 20 provinces in the Mekong Delta, South Central and Central Highland.

At global level, World Vision is actively responding to the El Niño event, to which the severe drought in the Mekong Delta has been partially attributed. US$78 million has so far been committed to the response activities, targeting the needs of 5 million people.

In Vietnam, World Vision has operated 15-year area development programmes in Ham Thuan Bac since 2007 and Bac Binh since 2005, focusing on nutrition, education, child protection and participation, livelihood, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. So far, World Vision’s interventions have improved the living conditions of more than 52,000 people in the two districts, including vulnerable children.

Drought and saltwater intrusion began affecting the Mekong Delta last December, massively damaging crops, threatening food security and, worsening sanitation and people’s health.