International aid flows in typhoon-hit provinces
Deputy Director of the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Van Tien on September 16 received relief supplies from Samaritan’s Purse, an international NGO dedicated to humanitarian aid and community development, for people affected by typhoon Yagi and subsequent floods and landslides.
The aid, worth approximately US$116,000, includes 3,000 flashlights, 3,000 cooking sets, 3,000 water filters for households, and 3,000 clean water containers. According to the plan, they will be transported to the northern provinces of Yen Bai, Lao Cai, and Cao Bang on September 16 - 17 and then distributed promptly to those affected by the storm and subsequent floods.
On the same day, the official also received relief goods from the Swiss Government and handed them over to Chairman of the provincial People's Committee of Yen Bai Tran Huy Tuan.
Valued at an estimated CHF361,140 (US$427,504), the Swiss aid includes 26 tonnes of equipment for safe housing, clean water, and sanitation.
At the handover ceremony, the Swiss side affirmed its commitment to support Vietnam in disaster recovery efforts. Switzerland will send a team of eight experienced experts in clean water, sanitation, and safe housing to conduct detailed assessments of Yen Bai’s needs and to propose suitable reconstruction plans. The experts will also assist with the installation and use of the equipment in the locality.
Earlier, on the night of September 15, a flight carrying over 35 tonnes of aid from the Indian Government landed at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. The US$1-million aid included 2,628 water purifiers, 1,000 water containers with valves, 15 water tanks, 10,000 blankets, 7,506 mosquito nets, 2,000 solar-powered lights, and 2,000 cooking sets.
Tuyen Quang province has already received and transported a portion of this relief supplies, while the remainders will be sent to Lang Son for timely distribution to local flood victims.
Since September 11, the ministry has received one shipment of aid from the Australian government, three from the ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, one from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one from the Indian government, one from the Swiss government, and one from Samaritan’s Purse.
As of September 16, the ministry has mobilised support from 10 embassies and 16 international organisations, with commitments of 160 tonnes of aid via air transport. All supplies arriving at Noi Bai are set to be directly distributed to Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, and Lang Son provinces to assist affected residents.
