More international aid for flood-hit communities in Vietnam
Various embassies and organizations announced further support for flood-affected regions in Vietnam, that were struck by consecutive storms within a week.
THE HANOI TIMES — Nearly US$6 million more in aid from international organizations has been mobilized as of October 16 to support northern Vietnamese residents affected by recent typhoons and flooding.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, numerous embassies and international organizations have launched emergency relief packages for the localities devastated by typhoons Bualoi and Matmo.
Among the donors, the Australian Embassy contributed over $1.93 million, the South Korean Embassy $1 million, the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) $216,000, the Canadian Embassy $50,000, UN Women $85,000, Samaritan’s Purse $280,000, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam $76,000, Plan International $58,000, Care International $150,000, ActionAid Vietnam $29,300, Save the Children $180,000, and among others.
Widespread flooding in Vietnam's central province of Ha Tinh. Photo: Ha Tinh Newspaper
Relief efforts have been and will be distributed to the hardest-hit provinces, including Lao Cai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh. Most of the aid includes cash, personal hygiene kits, kitchen kits, house repair materials, home repair kits, water filtration systems, instant noodles, clean water and other essential supplies for daily life and education.
The ministry’s Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection on October 15 sent a working group to guide residents in northern provinces of Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh to resume agricultural production and promote winter crop cultivation.
Australia delivers emergency aid to Bac Ninh
The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority on October 16 received an emergency aid shipment from the Australian Government to support flood-hit residents in the northern province of Bac Ninh.
This marks the second international relief shipment for Vietnam, following Japan’s first batch of international emergency on October 13.
The shipment includes 320 kitchen kits, 756 hygiene kits, 756 home repair kits and 300 blankets. The items were delivered to Bac Ninh right on October 16 for distribution to those in need.
Soldiers help people overcome flood consequences in Tam Giang Commune of Bac Ninh Province. Photo: VNA
Plan International Vietnam donates $57,000 for Tuyen Quang
In response to recent floods in northern Vietnam, particularly in the northern mountain province of Tuyen Quang, Plan International Vietnam on October 16 provided an emergency relief package worth $57,000 to support essential needs of affected households, helping them recover and return to normal life.
Plan International Vietnam donates $57,000 for flood victims in Tuyen Quang Province. Photo courtesy of the organization
The support package can meet the essential needs of affected households, especially children, and those who need to stabilize their lives after the effects of the rain and floods.
“Plan International Vietnam is actively working with Tuyen Quang Province authority to restore safe learning spaces, while ensuring that children have access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare and psychosocial support in the aftermath of the disaster,” said Le Quynh Lan, Country Director of the organization.
A report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that over the past two and a half months, Vietnam had endured five storms making landfall. The most recent two, Bualoi and Matmo, triggered historic flooding and widespread devastation.
In late September, Typhoon Bualoi devastated northern and central Vietnam, killing at least 51 people and causing an estimated VND16 trillion (US$606 million) in damages. Meanwhile, widespread flooding triggered by torrential rains in the wake of Typhoon Matmo in early October has left 18 people dead or missing, inundated hundreds of thousands of homes and caused severe infrastructure damage in four northern provinces of Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Bac Ninh.
