Kien Giang is one of the provinces in the Mekong Delta region that is being severely affected by climate change. With prolonged hot weather, high salinity, rapidly decreasing water reserves, and saline groundwater wells, local water shortages are directly affecting people's lives.
Mr. Le Hoang Nhan - Chairman of the Red Cross Society of An Minh District (Kien Giang) - said: In the district, the situation of people lacking water for daily use for eating and drinking is still common, especially in coastal communes. Due to the impact of drought and salinity, people's lives are still facing many difficulties.
“The district Red Cross Society, through the provincial association, has mobilized Samsung Electronics HCMC CE Complex Co., Ltd. to sponsor 1,500 water tanks worth VND3 billion, targeting poor, near-poor, and disadvantaged households in 11 communes and towns. This sponsorship is very practical for the people, especially for disadvantaged households who cannot afford to buy fresh water tanks for use during the dry season,” Mr. Nhan emphasized.
Excited to receive the water tank support this time, Mr. Truong Van Cang (74 years old, residing in Van Khanh Tay commune) said that his family currently consists of 2 people, both husband and wife, and they are old so their daily activities are inconvenient when there is a lack of water.
“The house only has one jar to store fresh drinking water, which is not enough for use, so we use all the basins and barrels to collect rainwater, and for other activities we use tap water. We have to save drinking water very economically, but it is still not enough. Now that a benefactor has supported a large water tank, I take advantage of collecting rainwater to drink cleanly,” Mr. Cang shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thieu (residing in Van Khanh Dong commune) said that during the dry season, her family often lacks water for daily use due to salinity. She has no water tank so she has to temporarily change water for use at 40,000 VND/m3. Daily living expenses are already hard to come by, and having to spend money to change drinking water makes her family's life even more difficult.
“When it rains, we use buckets, basins, and any other water-holding containers to collect them so we have water to drink and cook with. Now that we have a 1,000-liter water tank, everyone is very happy. We can rest assured that we will have water to use during the dry season. Where would we get the money to keep changing water?” Ms. Thieu confided.
Mr. Huynh Van Khoi - Vice Chairman of Van Khanh Tay Commune People's Committee - informed: Due to the current complicated climate change situation, it has greatly affected the lives of the people, especially in the issue of domestic water sources. This is also a difficulty of the locality that has not been resolved for many years.
“Due to the deep salinity, people drilled water pumps for use, and for drinking, they collected rainwater. The outside area is almost salty all year round, making people very miserable. Currently, the poverty rate in the commune is still high, about 3.75%. Now that they have received support for water tanks, people are very excited and happy. The commune also instructed people to assemble them in a high, clean place, and to cover the water to store tightly for safety when using and for long-term use,” said Mr. Khoi.
