Ho Chi Minh City, 15 June 2020 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Embassy of Japan in Ha Noi announced the provision of basic support to poor and vulnerable households in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces for the prevention of COVID-19. This support includes the provision of 1,300 packages of personal protective equipment and 1,300 water tanks for storage of clean water.

This initiative is part of the generous financial support from the people of Japan under the Japan Supplementary Budget (COVID-19) to 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Viet Nam. UNDP is responsible for technical support and overall management and delivery of this support.

According to the most recent UNDP assessment of the multiple impacts of COVID-19 and droughts in Southern regions (South Central Coastal and Mekong Delta) the poor, near poor and vulnerable households, including small holder farmers and informal workers, are among the most affected.

• Combination of COVID-19 and drought/saltwater intrusion reduced household-level revenues by 55%
• An average of 54% of households in Bac Lieu, Binh Thuan and Ca Mau faced extreme impacts caused by the combined impacts of COVID 19 and drought/saltwater intrusion
• Poor households spent significantly more on water, electricity, and food during COVID-19 social distancing period; some had to sell their livestock
  

As a result, the poor and near poor currently have limited ability to provide for the basic needs of their families including their ability to prevent COVID-19. They lack resources to procure water storage or hygiene items that are essential for protection against COVID-19.  

“We are delighted to work closely with the Embassy of Japan and the Government of Viet Nam to provide some of the urgent COVID 19 protection needs for vulnerable, poor people in three provinces. This support is part of an integrated response to enable vulnerable households to meet their basic needs as they recover from the pandemic and ensure no one is left behind.’ said Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam.”

"It is our pleasure to be a part of the effort　to　provide　basic　requirements　for　the　prevention　of　COVID-19.　We　hope　that　our　contributions will be used to help vulnerable households affected by COVID 19 and to make a real difference, especially, in three provinces in Viet Nam" said the embassy of Japan in Viet Nam.

More information, please kindly contact:

Phan Huong Giang, UNDP CCE Media and Communications Analyst
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org; Mob: 0948466688