Clean water is offered for free to people in need in Tien Giang Province which is one of the provinces in the Mekong Delta seriously lacking clean water due to saline intrusion. — Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre newspaper

INSEE Vietnam have joined hands with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in a project by offering VND500 million (US$21,500) and 500 tonnes of sulphate-resistant cement to help mitigate the impact of ongoing drought and saline intrusion in five provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region.

The newspaper’s project called "Bring freshwater to Mekong Delta" is being implemented in Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces, all of which have declared a state of emergency due to saline intrusion.

Accordingly, all water purifiers and tanks will be bought and installed for free in places where local people can easily get water to drink.

The sulphate-resistant cement INSEE Extra Durable will be used in building anti-saline construction or houses in drought-impacted areas.

This project is expected to support the Mekong Delta people against salinity and drought in the long run, general director of INSEE Vietnam, Philippe Richart, said.

“I hope people pay more attention to this challenge and join hands to solve this issue," he said.

The saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region is very severe this year and will continue to remain at a high level for the remaining months of this dry season, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The shortage of freshwater has occurred on a large scale in the region, seriously affecting the daily lives and production of local people. — VNS