Floods in the northern mountainous provinces have killed 14 people and left 11 others missing, causing losses of nearly VNĐ110 billion (US$4.9 million), according to the latest report from the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control.
More than 700 ha of rice and farm products were destroyed and 14 ha of fish were swept away. Four tonnes of rice seeds in Hà Giang Province were submerged. Several highways connecting Lào Cai Province and Lai ChâuProvince were damaged, obstructing traffic.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has sent a note giving guidance to northern provincial authorities to cope with the flood. PM Phúc asked provincial people’s committees and concerned ministries to search for missing victims, give support to residents who have lost loved ones and property and provide timely information to lessen the flood’s consequences.
Various organisations from the central to the grassroots level have joined hands to alleviate the suffering caused by a flood that inundated two provinces last Saturday night. The Vietnam Red Cross Society on Monday released VNĐ250 million (US$11,100) to help households reeling from lost lives and property in the northern mountainous provinces of Lai Châu and Hà Giang. Earlier, the Hà Nội Red Cross Society shelled out VNĐ50 million (US$2,200) in financial assistance for the affected population.
Government agencies and donors have joined hands to provide urgent assistance to people who have been affected by floods in the past several days. The Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) had an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss measures to help the flood-affected people. The VFFCC is leading the way to deliver aid worth VNĐ1 billion (US$43,000) to the two hard-hit provinces of Lai Châu and Hà Giang. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday provided aid to flood-affected people in northern Lai Châu Province. Each family of a flood victim will receive VNĐ3-5 million ($129-215).
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường has called on cadres and staff to contribute at least one day’s salary to help flood victims. The aid will be immediately transferred to people in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Governor of State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV), Lê Minh Hưng, on Wednesday requested SBV branches in Hà Giang, Lai Châu, Thái Nguyên, Điện Biên, Tuyên Quang, Lào Cai and Cao Bằng provinces to support the flood-affected people. The SBV has so far raised VNĐ2.3 billion ($98,900) for flood victims.
VFM
