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Vietnam:
emergency appeal for communities hit by Xangsane 4 October 2006 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching a preliminary emergency appeal for 1 million Swiss francs (US$ 808,000/€ 640,000) to support the Vietnam National Red Cross (VNRC) in assisting 61,000 people affected by Typhoon Xangsane over the next 12 months. The typhoon, which wreaked havoc across South-East Asia, slammed into central Vietnam on 1 October, causing widespread devastation and power outages. An estimated 1.3 million residents were affected by the storm, which packed strong winds and heavy rains. According to the VNRC, 31 people were killed, including 26 in the port city of Da Nang, while 269 were injured and dozens are still missing. “There has been heavy damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges and electricity posts,” said the VNRC’s deputy secretary general, Dr. Nguyen Chi Tuyen. “Over 268,000 houses are reported to have been damaged or destroyed, and there is an urgent need for food and drinking water.” In addition, hundreds of fishing boats were sunk, 8,000 cubic meters of dykes have been eroded, almost 4,600 hectares of rice and vegetable fields were badly damaged and 67,000 poultry were killed. The International Federation’s appeal aims to support the VNRC in providing emergency rations of rice and noodles for 50,000 people over the next month. The appeal will also provide basic household items, such as cooking stoves, water containers and mosquito nets, for 1,500 families and assist hundreds of vulnerable people in reconstructing typhoon-resistant houses and regaining a steady and sustainable income. “The rains may have stopped for now, but more typhoons will follow, so we must work hard to ensure that Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to get the training they need in order to be well-prepared for the next time disaster strikes,” said Irja Sandberg, Head of the International Federation’s delegation in Vietnam. Ahead of the storm, local Red Cross volunteers and staff were mobilized to help evacuate 50,000 people from over 12,300 homes. In addition, the Red Cross has deployed disaster response teams to assess the damage and the needs of affected communities, while volunteers have also distributed urgent food relief, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, buckets and blankets to vulnerable families. Meanwhile, the International Federation has already allocated 100,000 Swiss francs ($80,300 USD/€ 63,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to assist the VNRC in responding to the disaster. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Manila: Maude Froberg, Regional Information Delegate Tel: +66 1 823 9218 In Geneva: Anna Nelson, Media Officer for Asia & the Pacific Tel: +41 22 730 43 81/+41 79 724 2046 Media Service Duty Phone 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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