'Continuing the Drinking Water Donation' Campaign Launched
[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 15th that it will hold the "Continuing Drinking Water Donation (Relay)" event starting tomorrow in response to the expansion of restricted water supply areas due to severe drought in the southern island regions.
This event is being promoted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in collaboration with local governments, public institutions, and private companies to raise awareness of the severity of the drought and to foster a culture of safety where people help each other in times of difficulty through drinking water donations, encouraging nationwide participation to overcome the drought.
Recently, the southern island regions have experienced severe drought, depleting drinking water sources such as reservoirs, groundwater, and valley water. The number of people under restricted water supply has increased from 5,073 as of October last year to 18,814 as of January this year, making the help of all citizens urgently needed.
The donation target areas are Wando-gun and Tongyeong-si, where drinking water sources are most scarce. The target areas may change depending on the drought situation, and the main details including participation methods are as follows.
First, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a preliminary demand survey targeting local governments wishing to donate, and the event will begin with Seoul's participation on the first day, the 16th, and continue until the restricted water supply in the southern island regions is lifted.
Local governments and public institutions can directly deliver bottled water produced or sold by companies or self-produced bottled water to the target areas, and joint donations are also possible in cooperation with related organizations, groups, and companies.
General citizens (individuals and groups) can donate funds by contacting the Red Cross or the Disaster Relief Association individually, and they can designate or request the donation target area·and also receive receipts.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is implementing various measures at the pan-government level in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and others to overcome the drought. The Ministry holds weekly "Joint Drought Countermeasure Task Force (TF) Inspection Meetings" with related ministries to establish a proactive response system and encouraged the prompt execution of the special drought relief fund (16.1 billion KRW) allocated to Gwangju and Jeonnam in December last year.
Among the 13 local governments in the drought-affected areas of Gwangju and Jeonnam, 8 have participated in the Ministry of Environment's "Voluntary Water Saving Demand Adjustment System," and the Ministry is actively urging the remaining 5 local governments to join promptly.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is cooperating with the Ministry of Environment, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and others to supply water for power generation from Boseonggang Dam to Juam Dam to ensure stable water supply in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions.
Additionally, the government is making thorough preparations for drought by expanding water storage capacity through reservoir dredging, developing water resources for drought preparedness, and supplying tap water to areas lacking drinking water.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee stated, "I ask all citizens to extend a warm hand to our neighboring regions suffering from drought," and added, "The government will continuously monitor the drought situation in the southern regions to ensure prompt support, and public and private sectors will work organically together to do their best to overcome the drought."
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