Southwestern region suffers from drought and saltwater intrusion
Since the lunar New Year 2024, the Southwestern region has witnessed prolonged heat weaves, causing the exhaustion of water resources. Meanwhile, high temperatures ranging from 36 - 38 degrees Celsius, sometimes reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius, made the crops wither and die, heavily affecting people’s production activities. Up to now, many provinces in the Mekong Delta have declared an emergency over saltwater intrusion and lack of water for domestic use in the dry season of 2024.
For many days, thousands of households in maritime border areas of Tien Giang province have been on the tiptoe of expectation of clean water provided by local authorities and benefactors.
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Nearly 700 cans of water given to households in maritime border areas of Go Cong Dong district, Tien Giang province |
Knowing about this situation, Tan Thanh Border Post under the Tien Giang provincial Border Guard Command has actively transported water to the households and coordinated with local authorities of Tan Thanh and Tan Dien communes to call on benefactors to support local people.
According to Major Le Van Nhut, Head of Tan Thanh Border Post, at present, 16 hamlets of Tan Thanh and Tan Dien communes are seriously deprived of fresh and clean water. In recent days, troops of Tan Thanh Border Post have teamed up with the local authority to transport more than 700,000 liters of clean water and mobilized benefactors to provide nearly 600 large bottles of clean water (20 liters each) for drought-hit people.
Meanwhile, troops and relevant forces have promoted information dissemination and reminded people to use water sparingly and not to use contaminated water sources to avoid spreading diseases and affecting health and the environment in the community.
Bui Thai Son, Chairman of Tan Thoi Dong district People’s Committee, shared that the district has implemented urgent measures to minimize the loss caused by the drought. In particular, the district has installed public water tanks to serve thousands of households in coastal communes. Many water tanks presented by donors have contributed to addressing the water shortage.
In Ca Mau province, the Military Region 9 Command has directed Brigade 659 to mobilize three ships to transport nearly 1,7000 cubic meters of clean water and water storage tools to drought-hit localities in the province while the Coast Guard Region 4 Command has provided more than 350,000 liters of clean water for Hon Chuoi Island.
Southeastern region and Central Highlands lack water
On the land border, provinces in the Southeastern region and Central Highlands are short of water. For many years, in the dry season, thousands of households in the border areas of Southeastern and Central Highlands provinces lack water for daily activities. However, in the first months of 2024, the drought has become more severe, and big streams have no water left.
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Troops of Bu Gia Map Border Post under the Binh Phuoc provincial Border Guard Command help people pump clean water into reserve tanks. |
Dieu Ri, a female local in Bu Nga village, Bu Gia Map commune, Bu Gia Map district, Binh Phuoc province, shared that for more than 2 months, there has been no water in the well and her family has had to buy water at high prices. However, there was sometimes no water to buy. Knowing that Defense-Economic Unit 778, Bu Gia Map Border Post and the local authority would provide water for local people, the households in the village were excited.
Although receiving water for free, Ri’s family and other households use it sparingly and try to save water as much as possible. For many months, people in Bu Gia Map have had to find remaining puddles in shallow streams to dredge up water for temporary use.
According to Pham Sy Hoan, Chairman of Bu Gia Map commune People’s Committee, Bu Gia Map is a border commune in the mountainous area. Every year, especially in the dry season, people suffer from a shortage of water; however, this year, the situation is worse. There has been no rain for 6 months. Both drilled wells and reservoirs have dried up. The locality has proactively coordinated with Defense-Economic Unit 778, Bu Gia Map Border Post and Bu Gia Map National Park to provide water for local people.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Chau, Political Commissar of Bu Gia Map Border Post, underlined that offering clean water to local people is a practical activity, showing the sentiment of troops and local authorities towards people.
Translated by Quynh Oanh