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Emergency
appeal will feed Viet Nam typhoon survivors 10 October 2007 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for 3.2 million Swiss francs ($2.7 million US/ €1.9 million) to help the most destitute people affected by Typhoon Lekima in flood-ravaged central Viet Nam. This is the second round of serious flooding in two months, with an estimated total of 20 million people affected. The Vietnamese government and the Red Cross of Viet Nam evacuated at least 400,000 people as the massive storm approached and are credited with saving countless lives. Flash floods and mudslides annually claim hundreds, if not thousands, of lives in this country. The figures are comparatively low this time despite the magnitude of destruction in the storm’s wake: 51 deaths and 14 people missing are reported by the Central Committee for Floods and Storms Control. Meanwhile, the material loss to homes, crops and infrastructure is immense. “It’s really two emergencies with the same result,” explained Joe Lowry of the International Federation who accompanied government and Red Cross relief workers traveling by boat from one village to the next to deliver relief supplies to families stranded on rooftops. “The mountainous regions are facing killer flash floods while here in the low-lands, standing water simply refuses to drain. It has destroyed over 80,000 hectares of rice, vegetables and aquaculture crops. Electricity and telecommunications are down everywhere. ” The appeal will focus on preventing food shortages in the hardest hit regions for nearly 200,000 individuals, who will receive a month’s supply of food—30 kilograms of rice per family along with instant noodles and drinking water. Thousands of mobilized Red Cross volunteers are also distributing household kits containing mosquito nets, blankets and a 40-litre water container. Rebuilding communities using typhoon-resistant houses constructed with local materials is an essential part of helping families in this flood-prone region to withstand future disasters. Typhoon Lekima lashed Viet Nam on 3 and 4 October. Six of the worst-affected provinces were already under water as a result of incessant rainfall for three days before the typhoon struck. Damaged dams and swollen rivers inundated entire communities, washed away homes, roads and bridges and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands. In order to replenish relief stocks and continue responding to people’s needs, the International Federation released 200,000 Swiss francs ($170,000 USD or € 120,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund on 7 October. Since 2001, the International Federation has supported the Red Cross of Viet Nam in disaster preparedness activities ranging from educating school children about natural disasters to replanting mangroves along almost 200 kilometers of coastline. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Joe Lowry, Regional Communications Delegate (in Viet Nam, English or French) Tel: +66 81 823 9218 Winnie Romeril, Communications Officer (Geneva, English or Spanish) Tel: +41 22 730 4302 Media Service Duty Phone (Geneva) Tel. + 41 79 416 3881 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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