Military-civilian solidarity in drought days

Coming to Tran Van Thoi, U Minh and Thoi Binh districts of Ca Mau province in late April 2024, many canals and streams were dry, many wells were exhausted, crops were withered, and people lacked fresh water to eat and drink. The barren atmosphere here became more bustling and saturated when receiving the cool water delivered by the Navy soldiers.

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Lack of water is so miserable!

According to many people in Hamlet 6 (Khanh Lam Commune, U Minh District, Ca Mau Province): since the severe drought of 2016 until now, every dry season, people have had to endure water shortages. Many households cannot drill for underground water, or if they can, they cannot use it because the salty water is still contaminated with alum. Even households that have the conditions to build tanks, dig ponds to store fresh water, and pump out alum-laden water have struggled during this year's drought.

Ms. Huynh Thi Nhe (Hamlet 6, Khanh Lam Commune, U Minh District, Ca Mau Province) said: “From December last year until now, there is not enough water for drinking, let alone water for bathing and cleaning. Lack of rice is easy to deal with, but lack of water is very difficult. Without drinking water, many people have to drink well water. This type of water is salty and alum-containing, so it has a salty, pungent taste that is very difficult to drink, but we have to drink it because many families cannot afford to buy it.”

Accompanying the local government to support people to overcome drought, officers and soldiers of Naval Region 5 are taking advantage of every minute and every hour to bring fresh water to the people. Since April 17, hundreds of cubic meters of fresh water have been transported deep inland by Naval Region 5 ships to the hamlets to provide to the people.

Every day, the officers and soldiers of Naval Region 5 are busy with the work of bringing water to the people. Some open the valve of the tank, others carry water cans onto the truck for the people to take home... The work never stops, sweat pours down their backs and faces, but the soldiers' eyes are still bright, filled with joy.

Ship 470, Naval Region 5 supplies water to people in Khanh Lam commune, U Minh district. (Photo: Van Dinh)

In addition to supporting domestic water for people, the Naval Region 5 Command also gave 30 gifts (each worth 500,000 VND) to policy families.

Meaningful gifts from the Naval Region 5 Command were given to households in Khanh Tien commune.

On this occasion, the unit also coordinated with Saigon New Port Corporation and the Ca Mau Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee to present 150 water tanks (500 liters); 200 bottles of purified water (20 liters) and 50 gifts to poor and disadvantaged households in 3 districts: Tran Van Thoi, U Minh and Thoi Binh with a total cost of nearly 400 million VND.

Naval Region 5, Saigon Newport Corporation and Ca Mau authorities presented gifts to Ca Mau residents. (Photo: Van Dinh).

Solving the "deadlock" of thirsty land

Mrs. Tran Thi Cuc in Khanh Binh Dong commune (Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province) said: The Navy brought fresh water and even gave away water tanks. My family has several water storage jars, but they have cracked over time and our family is poor and does not have the money to replace them.

Mrs. Thai Bich Dan in Khanh Lam commune (U Minh district, Ca Mau province) said: Luckily, the Navy soldiers and benefactors brought fresh water, which helped our people to have less suffering. Everyone told each other to use it sparingly and economically, saving it for essential needs such as food and drink.

Fresh water is delivered to people's homes by local authorities in coordination with officers and soldiers of Naval Region 5. (Photo: Van Dinh)

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Thong, Chairman of Khanh Lam Commune People's Committee (U Minh District, Ca Mau Province): Khanh Lam Commune has invested in a water supply station to serve the people, but due to prolonged drought, the capacity of the station is not enough to supply the whole commune. People face many difficulties in daily life and production. To have a can of water for daily use, people have to go quite far to get it, and even if they go far, there is no water because the well is dry and the lake is dry. Spending money to buy water for daily use is quite expensive, people in difficult circumstances cannot afford it. Thanks to the attention of the State, the support of officers and soldiers of Naval Region 5, other forces and benefactors, water has been delivered to the people for daily use. The soldiers also helped people bring cans of water to their homes, the people were very touched".

"This year's prolonged drought and heat have made the water shortage situation more serious. Therefore, the very practical gifts from the Naval Region 5 Command and Saigon Newport Corporation have helped people have more clean water and fresh water storage equipment for daily life, serving the essential needs of life, ensuring family health. The above beautiful gesture has demonstrated the steadfast love between the army and the people and the beautiful tradition of Uncle Ho's soldiers" - Mr. Trinh Thanh Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Khanh Binh Dong Commune (Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau Province) said.

Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan (far right) reviews the implementation of water supply tasks by officers and soldiers of the unit in Bien Bach commune (Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province). (Photo: Van Dinh)

According to Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan, Political Commissar of Naval Region 5: In the face of the prolonged drought, the Party Committee and the Command of the Region have had a policy to support people in overcoming drought and using fresh water to ensure their lives. This policy is concretized in a plan and Ca Mau province is the first locality in the Region to provide support. From now until mid-May, Naval Region 5 will continue to deploy 4 vessels ready to mobilize to support localities when needed.

Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan visits and encourages people in drought-stricken areas in Khanh Lam commune. (Photo: Van Dinh)

The drought in Ca Mau province is expected to last longer. In difficult circumstances, the relationship between the army and the people has become even closer. The support of the Navy and other forces has helped the people of Ca Mau ease their hardships during the drought, gradually stabilizing their lives and restoring production.

On April 15, Ca Mau province declared a drought emergency in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts to deploy response measures. According to forecasts, the drought situation in Ca Mau province will last until early May 2024. In the coming time, Ca Mau is likely to continue to experience more land subsidence, landslides on canal banks and roads, causing difficulties in trading goods and traveling; lack of fresh water for people's lives and agricultural production.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/nghia-tinh-quan-dan-trong-ngay-nang-han-199347.html