The Lam River is "eating away" at the land; 47 households are hoping for a riverbank.
Having lived along the Lam River for many years, the people of Nhan Hoa commune are accustomed to the sight of riverbank erosion every rainy season. However, what worries them more is that the erosion is getting closer and closer to their homes, buildings, and agricultural land. Along a 1km stretch of eroded land, 47 households are affected and are awaiting a fundamental solution to stabilize their lives.
The land is gradually being lost after each rainy season and flood.
During the rainy season and floods, Ms. Vo Thi Phong, residing in Cam Son 1 hamlet, Nhan Hoa commune, constantly monitors the land behind her house. This is where her family has lived for many years, but it is also an area directly affected by the erosion of the Lam River banks.
According to Ms. Phong, this situation has been going on for many years. Every rainy season, a little bit of land behind the house erodes, sometimes losing about 4-5 meters. This year, the amount of soil washed away is much greater than in previous years. The outbuildings behind the house have also been damaged by the erosion, affecting the family's daily life and livestock farming.
"I can't sleep at night. I'm always scared when it rains and floods, so even though I work far away, I have to come home to check on things," Ms. Phong shared.
The land behind the house used to be used by the family for livestock farming, but after several landslides, the area is no longer usable. "Because the house was damaged by landslides, we can't raise any animals anymore. We have one cow, but during the rainy season, we have to send it to relatives' houses because we're afraid that if we leave it here, the riverbank landslides will wash away the most important source of livelihood for the whole family," Ms. Phong said.
Also living in the area, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong said that her family has lived here since 1988 and has witnessed the erosion over the years. The extent of erosion varies from year to year, but heavy rains and floods often cause a significant amount of land along the riverbank to be washed away. "In strong years, we lose 3-4 meters of land. Previously, the area behind the house was a garden for growing vegetables and fruit trees, but in recent years there is no land left to plant because of riverbank erosion," Ms. Hong said.
According to her, her family had also considered moving away from the area, but their economic situation did not allow them to build a new place to live. Therefore, the family's wish, as well as that of many other households, is for the landslide-prone area to be developed with embankments soon to protect the land and help people live in peace.
Landslides have approached people's homes.
The erosion is not limited to just a few households but extends along the entire riverbank. According to Mr. Pham Kim Tuong, head of Cam Son 1 hamlet, erosion in the area has been occurring for about 10 years. However, in the last 2-3 years, the situation has become more serious.
Mr. Nguyen Van Que, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nhan Hoa commune, said that the landslide situation in the area extends for about 1 km within Nhan Hoa commune. After the heavy rains and floods from the beginning of September until now, some locations have experienced more severe landslides. In some places, the distance from the landslide point to people's houses is only about 5 meters.
Currently, 47 households are affected by the landslide. The landslide area is also only about 20 meters from National Highway 7A. Therefore, the local authorities regularly monitor the riverbank's condition, especially during periods of heavy rain and rising river levels.
During the recent heavy rains, local authorities directed forces to the affected areas to assist residents and urged households to proactively move people and property when there was a risk of danger.
We need fundamental solutions to preserve our land and homes.
Assisting in the relocation of people and property during floods is a short-term solution. However, given the prolonged and increasingly encroaching landslides near residential areas, residents believe a long-term solution is needed.
A riverbank protection embankment, if invested in, would not only help limit erosion but also protect the land, structures, and livelihoods of dozens of households. For families who have lived in this riverside area for many years, a riverbank protection project would not only help retain the land currently being eroded but also create greater stability for their lives in the long term.
