Naval Region 5 supports people in drought-hit localities

Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan inquires after people in a drought-hit area.

In mid-April, the Ca Mau provincial People’s Committee announced an emergency drought situation in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts which are heavily affected by severe drought and saltwater intrusion. Many canals and waterways in communes of Khanh Lam and Khanh Tien of U Minh district, Bien Bach and Khanh Binh Dong of Tran Van Thoi district have dried up due to prolonged spell of drought.

According to Chairman of the People’s Committee of Khanh Lam commune Nguyen Minh Thong, Khanh Lam is a remote and difficult locality. Over the past years, agencies and sectors have invested in building water supply stations to serve the local residents. However, the prolonged drought has caused insufficient water supply. Many households also lack access to clean water for daily use because of saltwater intrusion

Freshwater transported to locals

Understanding about locals’ difficulties, Naval Region 5 have mobilized ships to transport hundreds of cubic meters of freshwater from islands for residents on the mainland. After ships reached the shore, the officers and soldiers coordinated with local authorities to pump the water into tanker trucks before distributing it to those in drought-hit areas.

In addition to providing water for daily use, the Naval Region 5 Command has also handed over dozens of gift packages to policy families. The unit has also collaborated with Saigon Newport Corporation and the Ca Mau provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization to deliver 150 500-liter water tanks, 200 20-liter purified water bottles, and 50 gift packages to poor households in the three districts of Tran Van Thoi, U Minh, and Thoi Binh. The total budget for the activities is estimated at nearly VND 400 million.

Needy families in Khanh Tien commune, U Minh district receiving gifts

According to Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan, Political Commissar of the Naval Region 5 Command, based on the local requests and actual situation, Naval Region 5 has developed a plan to transport and provide free freshwater to the residents of U Minh and Tran Van Thoi districts starting from April 17. The Party Committee and Chain-of-Command of Naval Region 5 have also directed relevant agencies and units to keep forces and vehicles on standby to transport water for local residents when requested. 

Locals receiving water tanks and purified water

With practical and wholehearted efforts, troops of Naval Region 5, in collaboration with local party committees and authorities, have partly eased difficulties confronting people in Ca Mau province, gradually helping them stabilize their lives.

Translated by Tran Hoai