Viet Nam is currently facing its worst drought in 90 years, leaving 1 million people in the Southern Mekong Delta, South Central and Central Highlands regions suffering from food insecurity and requiring humanitarian assistance.

A total of 477 113 hectares of cropland have been damaged, the fisheries and aquaculture sector has been severely hit and animals (poultry, pigs, buffaloes) have died, registered uncommon levels of sickness and migrated. In total, more than 600 000ha of productive land could be seriously affected by July 2016. As a result, an estimated 1.75 million people have lost their incomes due to the impact of the drought on the agriculture sector.

Recently, the EU’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has announced its support to the humanitarian response to the current drought emergency in Viet Nam, allocating 2 million euros for the country and identifying Food Security as the sector most in need, along with Water and Sanitation. On 23 June 2016, FAO organized a mission with ECHO and Save the Children to Gia Lai Province, which is one of the most affected areas in the country, to show them first-hand the damages caused by the drought in the agriculture sector and its impacts on the food security of the affected communities.

During the mission, delegates visited drought-affected households at the Vuong Village, Ayun Commune, Chu Se District. Moreover, a meeting with the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee was held to brief the visitors on the current situation and implemented activities from each department and agency. In the meeting, core drought stakeholders also participated from PPC leader, Department of Health, Department of Planning and Investment, Department Agriculture and Rural Development, Sub-department of Crop Production, Sub-department of Livestock and Animal Health, Sub-Department of irrigation, Red Cross Association and Women’s Union.

“With our own resources, and the contribution from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, FAO Viet Nam is carrying out various activities from need assessments to the emergency distribution of seeds and fertilizers. However more resources are needed in Viet Nam to meet the immediate needs of the Agriculture and Food Security sector with distributions of agricultural inputs, cash vouchers, restocking of animals, the provision of animal care and of fishing gears. Most importantly, it is essential to work together to address the medium and long term challenges caused by climate change and strengthen the resilience of communities to future shocks, protecting their livelihoods and ensuring their food security” stated Jong Ha Bae, FAO Representative in Viet Nam.