US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius announced on Tuesday that the US government has provided an additional US$500,000 in emergency assistance to help Vietnamese who have been affected by the worst drought and saltwater intrusion in decades.

This aid will “support vital programs to ensure that tens of thousands of people in need can harvest rainwater and have access to safe drinking water,” Osius said in a statement.

“It further demonstrates America’s steadfast commitment to helping the Vietnamese people as they recover the repercussions of this devastating drought and other impacts of climate change,” he said.

With the new funding, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with the Vietnam Red Cross to provide water containers, saltwater filtration systems and water purification tablets as well as disseminate good sanitation and hygiene practices to people affected by the recent drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta region to help prevent the spread of diseases.

In April, the US government provided $350,000 to help Vietnam cope with the drought and saltwater intrusion.

Since 2000, the US, through USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, has provided approximately $12 million in disaster response, preparedness and risk reduction assistance in Vietnam.