Naval Region 5: A drop of love "cools the hearts" of people on remote islands

Faced with the shortage of domestic water on islands in the Southwest sea of the Fatherland, on March 24 and 25, a fresh water tanker of Naval Region 5 provided free water to the people of Hon Chuoi Island. This activity helped the people here ease their difficulties and stabilize their lives during the drought.

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Mr. Kim Ngoc Dung, a resident of Hon Chuoi Island, said: “Hon Chuoi Island has no lakes or fresh water wells, the people’s water source depends on rainwater. This year, the heat has lasted for a long time, and the stored water has run out, which has significantly affected the daily lives of the people.”

According to Mr. Dung, due to lack of water for daily use, people have to take boats to the mainland to carry water to the island. This not only takes time and effort but also costs money, making people's lives even more difficult.

Cảnh sinh hoạt của một hộ gia đình ở đảo Hòn Chuối (huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau).

Scene of life of a family on Hon Chuoi Island (Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province).

Sharing the difficulties of the people, the Naval Region 5 Command dispatched Ship 526 and dozens of officers and soldiers of Brigade 127 and Regiment 551 to overcome long distances and storms to transport 130,000 liters of fresh water from Phu Quoc Island to provide free of charge to the people, armed forces on the island and fishing boats of fishermen fishing in the Southwest sea.

People's vehicles docked next to Ship 526 to receive fresh water. (Photo: Trieu Phuc)

Mr. Hong Nhat Truong, a fisherman on Hon Chuoi Island, said: “We were very happy to hear that the Navy ship was coming to supply water to the people! Every year when there is a drought, the people receive timely help from the soldiers. Not only do they provide free water, but they also help transport it to the homes of the elderly and families with small children.”

Officers and soldiers of Ship 526 and Regiment 551 pump water into the fishing boat's hold for people to transport to the island. (Photo: Trieu Phuc)

Due to the terrain and economic conditions, the people of Hon Chuoi Island cannot build water storage structures made of reinforced concrete like those on the mainland. Therefore, everything that can hold water provided by the army is fully utilized by the people.

“From early morning, before the sun rose, we got up to prepare items such as buckets, barrels, ladles, basins, plastic cans, and drums to store water. This year’s dry season is forecast to last longer, so every household tries to store as much water as possible from the army to serve daily activities,” said Mr. Kim Ngoc Dinh.

People make the most of the items to receive water provided by the army. (Photo: Trieu Phuc)

Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan, Political Commissar of Naval Region 5, said: “Over the past years, the Naval Region 5 Command has dispatched dozens of ships and hundreds of officers and soldiers to the islands to provide free fresh water to the people. The unit also donated thousands of bottles of filtered water and many other meaningful gifts to fishermen, policy families, and families in difficult circumstances on the islands. These acts of kindness have strengthened the solidarity and bond between the army and the people, encouraged and motivated people to go out to sea, stick to the sea, and contribute together with the forces to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.”

Hon Chuoi Island seen from afar. (Photo: Trieu Phuc)

Hon Chuoi Island is located in Song Doc town, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province, about 32 km west of the mainland, with an area of about 7 km2, and the highest point above sea level is nearly 170 m. Hon Chuoi is one of the important outpost islands in the southwest of the country. The island has complex terrain, high slopes, harsh weather conditions, little rain, and a lot of sunshine, so the lives of the people here are still difficult.

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