Foreign embassies pledge support for Vietnam to surmount typhoon aftermath

Briefing participants on the serious impacts of the storm and its accompanying downpour and flooding, MARD Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep thanked disaster risk reduction partners, international organisations, and foreign embassies for their assistance, both in cash and in kind, to the seriously affected localities.

He noted the Vietnamese Government has been exerting efforts to address the natural disasters’ aftermath. The top-level leaders of Vietnam, as well as officials of ministries, sectors, and localities have visited the areas hit by Yagi, flooding, and landslides to give on-site directions, encouragement, and relief to local residents.

So far, the country has received about US$15 million and 200 tonnes of essentials from international organisations and embassies. The aid has been being delivered to localities, he said.

The Deputy Minister added Vietnam hopes for continued assistance so that the affected localities can soon recover production and stabilise people’s life.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis said the UN office has sent delegations to assess the disasters’ impacts on clean water supply, sanitation, education, agriculture, and child protection in some localities. They will keep coordinating with disaster risk reduction partners and related agencies of Vietnam to mobilise resources for those areas, helping to quickly address consequences.

Indian Ambassador Sandeep Arya said the Indian Government will work with Vietnam to enhance infrastructure’s resilience to natural disasters.

At the event, representatives to some embassies presented tokens of relief for residents in typhoon-hit areas, including US$1.3 million from the UK Embassy, US$1 million worth of relief from the Indian Embassy, US$1 million from the US Embassy, US$620,000 from the New Zealand Embassy, US$2 million from the Australian Embassy, and US$2 million from the Republic of Korean Embassy.

The embassies also pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts in settling disaster consequences.

Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on September 18 that the Embassy of Ireland will give funding of EUR250,000 (US$278,000) through UNICEF to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene support to vulnerable children and families affected by Typhoon Yagi in northern Vietnam.

The assistance will include water tanks, water filters, soap, hand sanitisers, and water purification tablets.

Irish Ambassador Deirdre Ni Fhalluin said that her country is committed to supporting Vietnam during this time of great need. Its contribution of EUR250,000 reflects its solidarity with the people of Vietnam and its commitment to addressing the most urgent needs of those affected.

The same day, SK Group of the Republic of Korea said it will donate US$300,000 to help northern localities of Vietnam to settle the typhoon’s consequences. The funding will be sent to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee this month for purchasing relief supplies.

Typhoon Yagi, the third to appear in the East Sea this year, is the most powerful there in 30 years and in the Vietnamese mainland in 70 years. Hitting the northern part of the country on September 7, it took a heavy toll on all the 26 localities across the area, including Thanh Hoa province in the north-central region. Widespread and prolonged downpour accompanying the storm caused severe flooding and landslides in many localities.

As of September 17, 329 people died or went missing while about 1,930 others were injured. Some 234,700 houses, 1,500 schools, and many infrastructure facilities were pulled down or damaged. Meanwhile, 3,722 aquaculture cages were ruined, nearly 3 million livestock and poultry killed, and almost 310,000 trees uprooted, preliminary statistics show.

Property losses are estimated at more than VND50 trillion (US$2 billion).