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The European Union (EU) has pledged EUR1.3 million (equivalent to over VND35.6 billion) in emergency humanitarian assistance for families seriously affected by the floods in central Vietnam since the beginning of October. |
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This aid package will focus on satisfying the urgent needs of flood victims in the provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue. According to Olivier Brouant, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian response in the Mekong region, the contribution is a testament to the EU’s solidarity with the people of Vietnam, many of whom have suffered the loss of homes, livelihoods and belongings in the wake of the devastating floods. The EU funding will also support the bloc’s humanitarian partners in delivering life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in natural disasters, he stated. The relief aid includes the distribution of hygiene kits and other essential relief items to ensure access to clean water, sanitation facilities and good hygiene practices, Brouant said, adding that cash transfers will also be provided, allowing people to buy food or other items of their choice. The most vulnerable groups, such as female-headed households and the disabled, will receive special attention from the programme, the EU official emphasised. According to the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, as of 7 am on October 21, downpours and floods from October 6 to 20 have left 111 people dead and 22 missing, inundating 371 hectares of rice, damaging 7,126 hectares of crops, and killing 5,876 cattle and 685,225 poultry. During a meeting on October 26, a flash assessment of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership on damage from floods in Vietnam’s central region showed that about 150,000 residents in central localities will need emergency food support in the next five to six months, while 110,000 vulnerable people will need assistance to restore their livelihoods and agricultural production. Source: Nhan Dan Online |
