Many hectares of rice fields in the Mekong Delta were damaged due to the recent serious drought (Photo: VNA)
Kien Giang (VNA) ಞ– The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is considering all necessary measures to tackle natural disasters, said a local official.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Anh Nhin pointed to such shortcomings in the field as failing to anticipate the consequences of recent drought and saltwater intrusion and ineffective communication campaigns.
He urged departments to strengthen the organisation of the Steering Committee for natural disasters prevention and search and rescue at all levels, while building plans for areas that are prone to natural disasters.
It is essential to improve natural disaster prevention, he said, suggesting improving search and rescue capacity in the mainland and at sea.
He recommended upgrading drainage and salinity intrusion prevention systems and speeding up key projects such as building storm shelters for ships and upgrading sea dykes.
According to the provincial Steering Committee for natural disasters prevention and search and rescue, natural disasters and maritime accidents caused economic loss of more than 2.3 trillion VND (103.5 million USD) in 2015 and in the first five months of this year, making up over 30 percent of the local 2016 budget collection plan (over 6.2 trillion VND or 279 million USD). 52 people died, nine remained missing, and 36 others were injured.
The recent drought and saltwater intrusion damaged 86,230 hectares of rice fields and nearly 13,450 hectares of shrimp breeding area.-VNA
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) will give financial aid to 13 Mekong Delta and Central Highlands provinces to provide drought-affected residents with water for daily use.
Impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion along with countermeasures will be added to the agenda of the Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation (MDEC) forum, slated for this July in Hau Giang province.
Authorities in the Mekong Delta provinces have helped locals cope with the prolonged drought and salinity in rivers, minimising the losses caused by the twin disasters.
The marine economy in Mekong Delta’s Kien Giang province has developed rapidly over the past five years after local government investment of 111 trillion VND (5 billion USD) in the 2011 – 15 period.
The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang needs more than 2.3 trillion VND (103 million USD) by 2020 to build irrigation facilities to prevent saline intrusion.
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The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Many hectares of rice fields in the Mekong Delta were damaged due to the recent serious drought (Photo: VNA)
