Lack of clean water - an urgent problem for people in flooded areas of Western Nghe An

After days of heavy rain and floods in the western communes of Nghe An, the lives of thousands of households have not been able to return to normal. When the floodwaters receded, instead of breathing a sigh of relief, people in the flood-prone areas continued to face a new challenge: a serious lack of clean water in many villages.

Clip: Xuan Hoang - Quang An

In the last days of July, in the communes of Tuong Duong, Tam Quang, Nhon Mai, My Ly, Muong Tip..., floods have left serious consequences. Many houses were submerged in mud and soil, properties were swept away, and the road system was seriously eroded. In particular, the lack of domestic water is the most urgent problem, directly affecting people's lives.

People in Tuong Duong commune clean up their houses in conditions of lack of domestic water. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In Mac village, Tuong Duong commune, Mr. Luong Van Kiem shared: “When my family returned after the flood, all of their belongings were covered with mud and soil. The biggest difficulty right now is not food but water for daily use. There is no water for bathing, washing, cleaning, life is completely disrupted. The village's water supply works are buried, the pipes are all damaged. We just hope the government will fix it soon so we can have water to use.”

A resident uses the very weak natural water source to clean household items after the floodwaters recede. Photo: Quang An

In fact, most households in Mac village are without running water. Although damaged items have been removed from their homes, the lack of water makes it impossible to clean up properly.

Some households near the mountain area, next to National Highway 7A, pull water pipes from the cliff for their own use. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Ms. Luong Thi Hien - Head of the Economic Department of Tuong Duong commune said that currently in Lau village, Nhan village and part of Mac village, with more than 100 households, there is a serious shortage of water. The self-flowing water works are severely damaged. The locality is trying to fix it, but the water pressure is weak and there are no treatment chemicals such as alum to support the people.

People in Tuong Duong commune overcome the consequences of floods in conditions of severe shortage of domestic water. Photo: Quang An

Not only in Tuong Duong commune, but also in many residential areas along streams in Con Cuong commune. The tap water system has not been restored, while tanks and private wells have been severely damaged. Domestic water has become a "precious asset" that many households have to ask for from makeshift sources, potentially causing unsanitary conditions.

Using water from streams and creeks to wash clothes. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Actual records at many flood-affected areas show that mud, soil and stagnant water form large puddles, mixed with rubbish and floating household items. This is an environment that makes it easy for bacteria and pathogens to develop. Lack of water causes cleaning, disinfection and environmental sanitation to stagnate. Especially in crowded places like Hoa Binh market (Tuong Duong commune), this situation is even more serious.

A water pipeline has just been temporarily repaired by Tuong Duong commune to provide part of the domestic water supply for people in Mac village. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to initial statistics from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Nghe An province, thousands of households in the province are lacking water for daily activities. Many schools and medical stations are paralyzed due to lack of water to maintain operations.

Our observations show that currently, clean water suppliers are continuously transporting water trucks and water tanks to residential areas. Accordingly, people use various types of containers that can hold water and carry it home for use. However, this is only a temporary solution to solve the problem of drinking water.

In recent days, Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company has transported tanks of clean water to the local people, but only enough for drinking. Photo: Quang An

While waiting for long-term solutions, many volunteer organizations, Red Cross, and local Youth Unions have promptly deployed clean water support, bringing thousands of barrels of purified water to people in flooded areas. However, due to traffic conditions still being isolated in many places, access and support are still facing many difficulties, and relief resources are still very limited.

People bring tools to the tanker to get water for use. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The problem of domestic water after floods is becoming a big challenge for localities in Western Nghe An.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/thieu-nuoc-sach-van-de-cap-bach-cua-nguoi-dan-vung-lu-mien-tay-nghe-an-10303308.html