The European Union will provide €1.3 million ($1.52 million) for critical humanitarian assistance to families affected by severe flooding that wreaked havoc across central Vietnam.
The aid will focus on addressing the urgent needs of the most affected people in central Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces, European External Action Service said in a press release.
“This contribution underlines our 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,” said Olivier Brouant, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian response in the Mekong region.
The funding includes the distribution of hygiene kits and other essential relief items while ensuring access to drinking water, sanitation facilities and the promotion of good hygiene practices. Cash transfers will also be provided, allowing people to buy food or items of their choice.
Female-headed households and people with disabilities will be given priority for humanitarian assistance.
The central region was bombarded by prolonged heavy rains, historic flooding and deadly landslides for three weeks from October 6 that resulted in at least 130 deaths.
The historic flooding left 290,000 houses submerged and large swathes of agricultural land inundated and livestock killed, damage the government claimed to be “the worst in the past five years.”
Some countries and international organizations recently pledged immediate humanitarian relief to help central Vietnam overcome the consequences of deadly floods.
Japan International Cooperation Agency, the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, United Nations Development Program and Save the Children Vietnam pledged donations in cash and kind to help central Vietnam.
South Korea pledged relief worth $300,000 while the U.S. has promised $100,000.
With central Vietnam yet to recover from the historic flooding, Storm Molave, the ninth storm to hit Vietnamese waters this year, made landfall over Quang Nam and Quang Ngai Provinces on Wednesday, triggering heavy rains and strong winds for the central region.
At least seven people have been killed by landslides in Quang Nam, with 46 others still missing.
Reported by Nguyen Quy, @Vnexpress
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Source: Vietnam Insider