This is the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Head of the Central Steering Committee for Nature disaster prevention and control - Mr Cao Duc Phat at the Standing Committee meeting for disaster prevention and control discussed the measures to respond to drought and salinity intrusion in the Central Highlands, South Central and Mekong Delta, held on 15/4, in Hanoi.

  
                                   Map of drought and salinity intrusion in the Central Highlands, South Central and Mekong Delta

Since late 2015 up to now, the rainfall in the Central Highland and the South Central is very low, irrigation reservoirs, hydropower reservoirs reached a low capacity compared with the design and the same period of many years. Up to now, drough and salinity intrusioncaused more than 390,000 households have been suffered from water shortage; damaged nearly 233,000 hectares; 4,052 hectares of fisheries. The total damage was estimated at 5,200 billion VND. So far, Central budget and local budget have supported 1,048 billion VND, 5,200 tons of rice. According to the general perception, in the next months, the situation of drought, salinity intrusion is serious, the damage increase due to the incidence continues to rise, especially in the Central Highlands. 


  The workshop was chaired by Mr. Cao Duc Phat  

 Concluded the meeting, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Nature disaster prevention and coltrol – Mr.Cao Duc Phat suggested that localities continue to closely monitor the weather, water sources, salinity intrusion and implement synchronous measures to respond, reduce damage to production and stabilize people's lives. The members of the Steering Committee direct drastically and mobilize all resources to respond to drought and salinity intrusion, especially ensure food and fresh water for the people, don’t let the people be hungy and lack of fresh water.