VBL staffs collect garbage along canal in HCM City. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) – In response to World Environment Day, the Viet Nam Brewery Limited (VBL) has announced its second annual "1 minute less for 1 million smiles" environmental programme that will run to the end of the year.

The aim of the programme is to raise awareness among VBL's staff and the community at large about saving and protecting water resources, as well as the need to provide clean-water access for needy people in many regions.

Many practical environmental activities will be carried out in localities such as Da Nang, Quy Nhon, HCM City and Can Tho as well as Quang Nam, Tien Giang provinces.

VBL staff will collect garbage along canals, ponds, lakes and rivers and call for a commitment from community to save water through daily activities, including effective use of water for cleaning and irrigation.

VBL has also offered VND300 million (US$14,285) to upgrade an alum-polluted drill well and the main water pipes in Thanh Tan Commune, Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province.

Other community areas will also receive support from VBL so they can have a clean water supply.

Global water scarcity

According to the UN, there are more than 1 billion people worldwide without sufficient water.

By 2025, about 1.8 billion people will be living in areas with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water- stressed conditions, according to UN estimates.

The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam said there were 17.2 million people (about 21.5 per cent of the population) in the country who are using untreated water sources.

According to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 80 per cent of diseases in Viet Nam are caused by polluted water sources.

Every year, about 9,000 deaths in Viet Nam occur because of poor water and sanitary conditions.

The World Environment Day falls on June 5. — VNS