World Bank aids water supply system

The World Bank approved a $12 million concessional credit to Vietnam Dec. 22, which will help the country pipe water to around one million residents in the towns and cities. The credit will support Vietnam's Urban Water Supply Development project, which aims to improve water and household sanitation services in district towns and large urban centers. The first phase will benefit 15 district towns in three provinces and an estimated 145,000 residents. The second phase includes up to 120 towns in 24 provinces, benefitting another 740,000 people. (World Bank press release, Vietnam News Briefs, Dec. 22).