Natural disasters come with $224m price tag

The extensive damage caused by drought and salinsation recorded in the southern central, Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta has been estimated to have cost 224 million USD. In addition, the drought in the central region will continue to affect the 2016 summer-autumn crop, including the potential 54,000 hectares of rice paddy which may be forced to stop production. However, the Mekong Delta has seen better news as salinity in the Mekong Delta has recently reduced thanks to water released in the upper reaches of the Mekong River. To date, the government has provided 36,000 USD and 5,221 tonnes of rice for the central region, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. The Vietnam Red Cross has also provided drinking water for 11,000 households in 11 provinces.