Reports
from Viet Nam Red Cross workers in the central coastal region
indicate massive damage caused by the passage of Typhoon Lekima.
More than 40 people have been killed and infrastructure devastated,
with electricity and telecommunications down, and transport
by land sea and air severely disrupted. Thousands of people
have been affected.
But the disaster was a victory for disaster preparedness. Some
400,000 people were moved from the at-risk areas (10,000 of
them under Viet Nam Red Cross supervision).
“Although the damage was immense the loss of life was
minimal,” said Irja Sandberg, Federation representative
in Viet Nam. “Without this mass mobilisation we might
have had headlines saying ‘hundreds dead’. As it
is, the story has faded out of international news”.
Her view was echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai
who told the Reuters news agency: "Thanks to good preparatory
work the damage from the storm is not large."
The Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC) has released household kits from
its buffer stock and is distributing them to the affected population.
Quang Binh chapter has been actively involved in evacuation,
rescue and search operations coordinated by the Provincial Committee
for Storm and Flood Control.. The Red Cross continues search
and rescue operations, providing first aid services where necessary.
Rapid assessments have begun to determine the size and scope
of the disaster. Based on these, the chapter will use its emergency
contingency funds to initiate relief efforts.
The latest severe weather comes less than two months after devastating
mid-August flooding in the central provinces. Typhoon Lekima
has severely affected the same area, where six provinces were
already under water as a result of incessant rain for the three
days before the typhoon struck.
In some provinces, particularly Ha Tinh, rivers and dams are
still above the danger level and many embankments have been
damaged. preliminary damage estimations. For instance, total
losses in just one affected province are estimated at VND 72
billion (CHF 5.3 million or USD 4.5 million.)
Although full information is not yet available, some affected
areas, particularly Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, may also suffer
food shortages due to the two serious floods which washed away
rice fields.
At its height typhoon Lekima reached speeds of up to 130 kmh.
By the time it passed into neighbouring Laos it had been downgraded
to a tropical depression, although forecasters were warning
of mudslides and flash floods into Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
The International Federation immediately released 200,000 swiss
francs (US$ 170,000 / € 120,000) from its Disaster Response
Emergency Fund to respond to immediate needs.
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A
villager in Thach Dinh, Thanh Hua province almost submerged
in the floods that have badly affected six provinces of
Vietnam, an area the size of Belgium. The International
Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released 200,000
swiss francs in emergency funds to resupply Vietnam Red
Cross relief stocks. The IFRC is preparing an emergency
appeal to purchase kitchen sets, water
jars, mosquito nets and blankets for over 12,000 families,
as well as 500 metric tonnes of rice. (p16550) (Joe Lowry/IFRC)
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District
chairman Hoang Tien Thien distributing emergency food
aid and medicines to villagers stranded for over three
days in the floods that followed typhoon Lekima in Thanh
Hua province, central Vietnam. The International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released 200,000
Swiss francs in emergency funds to resupply Vietnam Red
Cross releif stocks. The IFRC is preparing an emergency
appeal to purchase kitchen sets, water jars, mosquito
nets and blankets for over 12,000 families, as well as
500 metric tonnes of rice. (p16549) (Joe Lowry/IFRC)
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Red
Cross volunteer Dr Vu Thanh Khuong beside the main road
to Thach Dinh commune, Thanh Hua province, Vietnam prior
to distributing emergency food aid and medicines to villagers
stranded for over three days in the floods that followed
typhoon Lekima. The International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies has released 200,000 Swiss
francs in emergency funds to resupply Vietnam Red Cross
relief stocks. The IFRC is preparing an emergency appeal
to purchase kitchen sets, water jars, mosquito nets and
blankets for over 12,000 families, as well as 500 metric
tonnes of rice. (p16551) (Joe Lowry/IFRC)
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Vietnam
Red Cross volunteer Pham Van Khoi directs the distribution
of emergency food aid and medicines to villagers stranded
for over three days in the floods that followed typhoon
Lekima in Thanh Hua province, central Vietnam. The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has
released 200,000 Swiss francs in emergency funds to resupply
Vietnam Red Cross releif stocks. The IFRC is preparing
an emergency appeal to purchase kitchen sets, water jars,
mosquito nets and blankets for over 12,000 families, as
well as 500 metric tonnes of rice. (p16552) (Joe Lowry/IFRC)
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