The Vietnamese government recently pledged VND1 trillion (US$44 million) in disaster aid after the United Nations (UN) approved US$4.21 million to provide additional assistance to those affected by Typhoon Damrey.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced his decision to allocate the funds, which include VND170 billion (US$7.48 million) to Phu Yen province and VND260 billion (US$11.44 million) to Khanh Hoa province during a trip to the two storm-ravaged areas on November 30, according to DTI. The localities will also receive 1,000 tons of rice each.
Phuc stressed the need for authorities to raise public awareness about flood prevention, especially in the face of climate change. He asked residents to evacuate from areas prone to natural disasters to avoid human losses. Phuc previously told local officials, VOV reports, that the government’s funding is limited, and provinces needs to find other resources to help flood victims.
Last month VietnamNet reported that Quang Ngai authorities visited victims and delivered financial aid. Nguyen Tan Doi, president of the provincial Red Cross Society, said: “In addition to initial aid, we provided each family who lost a member US$198 and each injured person US$66. Families who lost their homes will receive US$660.”
The Vietnam Fatherland Front and Thua Thien-Hue authorities have given out more than US$150,000 in cash. Le Thi Tuyet Mai, deputy president of Thua Thien Hue’s Fatherland Front, said: “We have allocated US$132,000 for flood victims, US$22 per family. We have also received cash and rice donated by benefactors far and near.” Companies such as Petroleum Equipment Assembly and Metal Structure Company have offered financial and logistical assistance. Local forces are also supplying safe water to prevent any health epidemics.
Last week, the UN approved the release of US$4.21 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide assistance. The fund will help 150,000 people, including 46,973 children across six affected provinces by providing shelter materials, water filtration systems, hygiene kits, agricultural supplies and unconditional cash transfers and vouchers to compensate for the loss of livelihoods.
“The UN’s CERF funds will cover immediate life-saving needs and support time-critical interventions over the next six months,” said Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. The funds are in addition to a November 15 Emergency Cash Grant of US$100,000 from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Russia recently donated US$5 million to help storm-battered localities, while the Japanese government has announced that it will donate 105 water filtration systems.
The November 4th storm and subsequent flooding left more than 100 people dead or missing and damaged 115,000 houses, thousands of hectares of crops and large portions of the electric grid.
An estimated 4.33 million people were affected, including 400,000 who required emergency humanitarian aid. Khanh Hoa province alone suffered losses up to VND14.7 trillion (US$646.8 million), while Phu Yen's damages reached nearly VND3.5 trillion (US$154 million).
