Viet Nam appeals for US$48.5 million to respond to worsening drought

A recent joint rapid assessment, undertaken by the Government, UN and non-governmental organizations in March estimated that in the 18 most severely affected provinces, as many as two million are without access to water and 1.1 million in need of food aid. More than 60,000 women and children are already malnourished, and as many as 1.75 million people have lost livelihoods as a result of the worsening situation.

Although up to a third of provinces nationwide are experiencing effects from the prolonged drought, a further eight provinces are at risk of becoming severely affected in the coming weeks, with water shortages and use of unsafe water posing risk factors for outbreaks of water-related diseases. This, coupled with heightened food insecurity due to drought-induced crop loss is likely to be a factor in the rising rate of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition reported by the joint rapid assessment.

In the Mekong Delta, the drought and decrease in groundwater levels have resulted in the most extensive saltwater intrusion in 90 years, the worst since records began. While salt water intrusion is an annual phenomenon, this year it started nearly two months earlier than normal and has penetrated an average 20-30 kilometre further inland. As a result of the drought and saltwater intrusion, more than 400,000 hectares of crops have been affected with varying degrees of productivity loss, and 25,900 hectares have not been planted at all.

Since late 2015, the Government has provided 5,223 tonnes of relief food for distribution to the three drought-affected regions and has allocated VND1,008 billion (US$45 million) for national drought relief efforts. So far, two million cubic metres of water has been delivered by truck and 630,000 doses of Chloramine B and 400,000 Aquatabs delivered to water-insecure households. Given the worsening situation, on 15 March 2016 the Government of Viet Nam requested assistance from international partners for its relief efforts, prioritizing support to ensure water supply, storage and treatment in drought-affected areas, as well as food security and nutritional support and enhanced monitoring of potential disease outbreaks.

The UN Resident Coordinator Ms Pratibha Mehta said today ‘the Government has mounted an extremely strong response so far but this is a unique event calling for a unique international effort. We look forward to working with the Government to help meet the most immediate needs of those worst affected”.

The emergency response plan launched today in Viet Nam responds to some of the most immediate needs of the crisis, addressing humanitarian needs for water, sanitation and hygiene, food security, nutrition, health and early recovery. Some funding has already been secured enabling the Government to mount an immediate response.

The current El Niño event is one of the strongest on record affecting an estimated 60 million people across Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Pacific. Globally, the impact of El Niño is not expected to improve in 2016, and with the possibility of a severe La Niña event to follow this may worsen the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide at least till the end of the year.

In response to the crisis, a global call for support and action for 22 countries, including Viet Nam, will be announced in Geneva today. The Government of Viet Nam, with support from the UN, is working closely with all partners to mobilize all necessary support to fully implement the emergency response plan and to assist all those affected.

Related information:

• Viet Nam: Emergency Response Plan 2016/17
• Viet Nam: Drought and Salt Water Intrusion – Situation Update No. 1 (as of 24 March 2016)
• Viet Nam: Drought and Salt Water Intrusion – Situation Update No. 2 (as of 14 April 2016)

For more information, please contact:

• Mr Tran Kim Long, Director General of International Cooperation Dept., 0438434682, 0913218121
• Ms Susan Mackay, UN Communications, susan.mackay@one.un.org, 0913901405
• Mr Trinh Anh Tuan, UN Communications, trinh.anh.tuan@one.un.org, 0903296393