On November 5, the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) launched a collaborative program to support 7,200 people, especially vulnerable women, in the provinces of Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan, which have been severely impacted by drought and saltwater intrusion.
As part of the initiative, over 420 women in Ca Mau province will receive household water storage tanks, which will help reduce the time spent collecting water and ease the burden of caring for and protecting family health. Additionally, 200 women needing improving agricultural irrigation systems will receive financial assistance to purchase water-saving irrigation equipment.
The "Water is Life" project is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UN Women in cooperation with the Women's Unions of Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan provinces. The project, which will run through 2024-2025, aims to improve access to livelihoods, sustainable clean water, and gender-based violence prevention through the distribution of water storage tanks, water filtration systems, and irrigation equipment, along with communication programs to raise awareness.
In addition to benefiting women and households, the project will provide water filtration devices and storage tanks to schools and healthcare centers, enhancing sanitation conditions for children and the local community. With Japan's support, approximately 7,200 people, particularly vulnerable women, are expected to benefit from the project.
The Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam shared that the project's goal is to improve access to clean water for women and children, contribute to the recovery of the agricultural sector, and ensure livelihoods for vulnerable women.
Ca Mau and Ninh Thuan have faced high drought risks and severe saltwater intrusion for many years. Prolonged droughts have caused significant agricultural losses and negatively impacted the lives and health of local communities, especially women and girls, who are primarily responsible for sourcing and managing water for their households. Furthermore, saltwater contamination has led to a decline in water quality, exacerbating public health risks and increasing the incidence of infectious diseases such as dengue, diarrhea, and skin diseases. These impacts are hazardous for women, children, and ethnic minorities.
In 2020, saltwater intrusion in Ca Mau affected over 29,644 hectares of farmland, significantly reducing rice and vegetable yields, with estimated losses of 107 billion VND. The situation has worsened, with over 20,000 households purchasing water at high prices, affecting their ability to afford other necessities.
Ninh Thuan, the driest province in Viet Nam, has also faced severe droughts, resulting in the abandonment of 7,873 hectares of agricultural land in 2019-2020. The freshwater shortage has left 72,000 people at risk of food insecurity, with over 12,000 households—nearly 50,000 people—lacking access to clean water. The depletion of surface and groundwater has led to malnutrition and the death of approximately 110,000 livestock due to insufficient water and food.