VietNamNet Bridge - The central province of Ninh Thuan is facing the most severe drought in 10 years.

According to the provincial announcement, over 500 hectares of winter-spring crops were underproductive, and cultivating activities were hampered across 16,000 hectares. Meanwhile, more than 900 heads of goats, sheep and cows died as a result of food shortages.

The province has evacuated 17,600 livestock to more abundant food areas as part of efforts to prevent damages caused by the lingering drought.

Due to the El Nino weather pattern impacts, rainfall in the locality stands at about 300 millimeters, 40-50 percent lower than the average. Water volume in 20 reservoirs is standing at 7.9 percent of their designed capacity.

Most local areas have dried up, with over 8,600 households in 12 communes facing water shortages.

The province has delivered 1,417 tones of rice to affected families and continues to allot rice for nearly 19,000 local residents.

Earlier, about 15 million liters of clean water were sent to the drought-affected districts of Thuan Nam and Bac Ai as part of the Vietnam Red Cross’s (VRC) urgent relief to local residents.

The most heavily-affected areas are located in agricultural districts such as Bac Ai, Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Son, Thuan Nam, and Ninh Hai. Thuan Nam and Bac Ai have suffered from two consecutive years of drought.

The following images of Ninh Thuan before and during the drought show how terrible it has been.

Po Klong Garai - The biggest and most beautiful Cham tower in Vietnam - in the past. And the tower at present. A rice field in Ninh Thuan before the drought. All rice fields in the province are in this situation. A happy farmer with the good harvest in Ninh Thuan. The local farmers cannot smile now. The green pasture and fat sheeps before... And they are now... The pituful sheep have to eat even garbage to survive in the severe drought. Before the drought, each flock of sheep numbered hundreds. The sheep gradually died of drought.

VNN/Tri Thuc Tre/Kenh14