RoK provides US$300,000 for women, girls in drought-affected areas

VGP – The Republic of Korea (RoK) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) inked a cooperative agreement worth US$300,000 to improve sanitation for 15,000 women and girls in 7,500 poor and near-poor households who are seriously affected by droughts in six districts in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands.

July 20, 2016 4:39 PM GMT+7

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RoK Ambassador to Viet Nam Lee Hyuk expected that the assistance will improve sanitation conditions for women and girls in areas affected by droughts and limit diseases, adding that the RoK’s Government will continue helping Viet Nam cope with consequences of climate change by sharing experience and knowledge related to sustainable policies on the environment and climate.

UN Women Country Representative in Viet Nam Shoko Ishikawa said that the amount will be used for purchasing necessary items such as shampoos and sanitation products for women in three provinces of Ca Mau, Kon Tum and Gia Lai.

The UN Women also received US$400,000 from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist 20,000 women and girls in these localities.

Earlier in March, the Vietnamese Government called for assistance from the international community as 18 out of 63 localities nationwide are seriously affected by the most serious droughts and sea-water intrusion over the recent 60 years.

At least two million people, including one million women and 520,000 children are getting access to unsafe and unqualified water and sanitation.

As much as US$48.5 million was collected from the international community for Viet Nam to fight drought and saltwater encroachment.

By Thuy Dung