HO CHI MINH CITY, July 5, 2016 -- U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius announced today that the U.S. Government has provided an additional $500,000 in emergency assistance to help those who have been affected by the worst drought and saltwater intrusion Vietnam has faced in decades.

“This additional aid will support vital programs to ensure that tens of thousands of people in need can harvest rainwater and have access to safe drinking water,” said Ambassador Osius. “It further demonstrates America’s steadfast commitment to helping the Vietnamese people as they recover the repercussions of this devastating drought and other impacts of climate change.”

Twenty-two of Vietnam’s 63 provinces have been impacted by the recent drought and subsequent intrusion of saltwater into the Mekong River Delta, which are negatively impacting people’s livelihoods. With this new funding, the U.S. Agency for International Development is working with the Vietnam Red Cross to provide water containers, saltwater filtration systems, water purification tablets, and disseminating good sanitation and hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of diseases.

The United States announced the initial disaster relief grant in April, the first assistance from an international partner, to help Vietnam respond to the drought and saltwater intrusion. Since April, the US Government has provided $850,000 in assistance to respond to emergency and recovery operations, including this newly-announced $500,000.  Since 2000, the United States, through USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, has provided approximately $12 million in disaster response, preparedness and risk reduction assistance in Vietnam. USAID programs have reached more than one million people in nearly 150 communities with disaster preparedness services. USAID-supported disaster relief efforts directly support the Government of Vietnam’s relief efforts.

For more information please contact Mr. Nguyen Thac Phuong, Communications Specialist, USAID, Email: phuongnguyen@usaid.gov, Cell: (+84) 977 253 071.

For photos of the grant implementation, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskDhhh6d