Attachments
Highlights
- In April 2024, several provinces declared emergency situations of clean water shortage due to severe drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong River Delta. The situation is evolving and an increasing number of provinces, families, women, and children are expected to be affected in the coming weeks.
- Four provinces have declared a state of emergency till date. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)/Department of Water Resources estimates that 73,900 households are affected by the water shortage and requested UNICEF Viet Nam and other international partners to support the emergency response in water and sanitation.
- The saltwater intrusion reached extremely high levels in April. Levels are likely to remain high throughout May 2024. During the remainder of the dry season, if the upstream reservoirs operate with unusually reduced discharges, saltwater intrusion may increase higher than forecast. The map of the highest saline level of 4g/liter is shown in the below figure.
- UNICEF is monitoring the situation and is increasingly concerned regarding the impact on women and children, their access to safe water for drinking and household use, and their access to adequate nutrition. UNICEF is urgently supporting the distribution of WASH supplies and raising community awareness concerning the drought and saltwater intrusion, including water conservation, sanitation practices, and proper use of WASH supplies.
- Viet Nam is recognized as one of the countries most severely affected by climate change. The evolving situation represents a child centered disaster with children the most affected their survival, risks to health, nutrition, food security and safety, their development in critical growth periods impacted by the lack of access to safe water. While specific provinces are the focus of UNICEF support, the significant impact on this agricultural basin of Viet Nam will have a wider impact on food security and cost of living for the country as a whole.