This update is issued on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam. It covers the period from 16 June to the 11 July 2016. The next update will be issued as new information becomes available.
Highlights
Since January 2016, acute drought and saltwater intrusion has severely affected more than 2 million people in 18 provinces.
MARD has officially declared drought conditions to be over in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and the South- East region, but still on-going in South-Central Viet Nam.
However, impact for affected households is still lingering and needs are still pertinent particularly in terms of water storage and purification, hygiene promotion, nutritional support and livelihood recovery.
So far, 33% of the Emergency Response Plan appeal of US$48.5 million has been mobilized from various donors. 51% of the mobilized funding has been allocated for WASH relief operations.
Significant funding gaps remain for food security and livelihoods with only 11.2% of required emergency funds being mobilized so far.
The CCNDPC, based on provincial input, has communicated initial plans for recovery, which will be costed and finalized in the coming weeks.
18 provinces severely affected
535,933ha of crops have been damaged or lost
US$708m estimated total economic loss
33% covered of emergency appeal
*Source for damage and loss data: Central Steering Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control
Situation Overview
Rainfall has significantly increased in the Mekong Delta, South-East region and Central Highlands, providing much needed relief to people, livelihoods and ecosystems. South-Central Viet Nam is still affected by the drought but the situation is slowly improving with scattered but small rains occurring. Rainfall in South-Central Vietnam is expected to increase in September.
Reservoirs are currently at 60 to 70% of full capacity in the Central Highlands, 30 to 50% in South-Central Vietnam (with only 19% in Ninh Thuan) and 30 to 50% in the South-East region.
Water levels in the Mekong river basin are slowly increasing and will continue to do so in the coming weeks as part of the annual slow onset flooding.
During the past weeks, drought affected areas in Central Highlands and Mekong Delta have been impacted by localized medium to heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of landslides, flash floods and riverine flooding.
At the end of June, the MARD Water Resources Directorate has officially declared the hydro-meteorological drought conditions to be over in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and South-East region, but continuing in South-Central Vietnam.
However, impact for affected households is still lingering, particularly in terms of reduced income, water for production and other resources, increased debts, reduced soil fertility and risk of malnutrition. Farmers that have replanted rice and other crops are currently in a lean period until harvests commence in October or later.
La Niña likelihood remains at 75%, potentially bringing heavy rainfall and floods to the already affected areas from September onward.