(VOVworld) - The Japanese government has promised 2.5 million USD in a non-refundable emergency aid to mitigate drought and saltwater intrusion losses in Vietnam’s central and Mekong Delta regions.

A rice field in Mekong Delta region hit by drought. (Photo: vietnamnet)

The aid, delivered through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), will be used to provide food and fresh water to people in the hardest-hit areas.

150,000 people are expected to benefit from access to clean water and about 127,000 pregnant women and children will receive supplementary food.

Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, a representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, said Japan’s funding is important to enable UNICEF to help people in areas devastated by natural disasters.

Japan will cooperate with Vietnam to quickly distribute the aid and seek medium and long-terms solutions to the situation.