WB Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione speaks at the workshop (Photo: World Bank)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment and the World Bank (WB) co-hosted a workshop in Hanoion May 30 to announce the results of the WB’s study entitled “Vietnam: Toward asafe, clean and resilient water system”.
Speaking at the workshop, Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said Vietnam is among the hardest-hitcountries by climate change. Water resources may decline in the dry season,resulting in prolonged droughts and saline intrusion in many areas, he said.
The lack of resilience to natural disastersposes a huge challenge to the country’s efforts to ensure water sources, foodsecurity, and sustainable development. Under pressure from the population’sgrowth, economic development and increasing water demand, Vietnam’s waterresources may run out, he noted.
According to the WB’s study, pollution mayreduce Vietnam’s gross domestic product by 3.5 percent annually by 2035. Meanwhile,only 46 percent of urban households have connections to drainage systems andonly 12.5 percent of municipal wastewater is treated.
WB CountryDirector for Vietnam Ousmane Dione said unless decisive steps are taken, waterwill become a brake on Vietnam’s development, adding that recommendations in the WB report aim toenhance capacity for the country’s water management agencies.
The report alsosupports efficient use of water, response to natural disasters, and resilienceduring floods and erosion amid of sea level rise and surface depression, hestated.
TheWB official said there is scope to improve financial resource allocation, tobring in more private financing, and to align incentives more closely withtightening the regulation on pollution.
Inresponse, Ha affirmed that the report’s recommendations will be regarded as valuabledocuments to review and amend legal frameworks and promote activities in watermanagement, thereby ensuring effective and sustainable use of water resourcesin Vietnam.-VNA
