Excellencies, HE Vice Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, ladies and gentlemen, friends, colleagues, and distinguished guests, It is a pleasure and an honour to be here today at the 11th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in lovely Hanoi. Thank you to the Viet Nam Red Cross President Madam Bui Thi Hoa for your generosity and kind hospitality. Over the years, this gathering has promoted cooperation, networking, and partnerships among our National Societies, helping us address common humanitarian concerns and strategies for implementation. Today, I stand inspired by the incredible dedication of all the National Societies from the Asia, Pacific and Middle East present here. Your resilience in serving communities is truly commendable. Thank you for your impactful work. Tremendous achievement and progress in Asia, Pacific and the Middle East: In the last decade, this part of the world has witnessed tremendous economic growth, infrastructure development, increased investment in health and education, and poverty reduction primarily driven by China and India. Economies have diversified and there has been unparalleled progress in technology and innovation, including a massive increase in renewable energy. This has firmly put this region as the growth engine of the entire world. We are especially proud of the leadership role of the Pacific countries in championing the climate agenda. However, gaps still exist and are widening: Some countries in these regions still struggle with high levels of poverty and significant income disparities between different social groups. Rapid population growth, technological advancements, and limited job opportunities contribute to high unemployment rates and underemployment issues. Despite progress, access to quality education remains a challenge for many people, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas. Gender disparities persist in various aspects, including education, employment, political representation, and access to resources and opportunities. Several countries in these regions experience political unrest, conflicts, and tensions that hinder sustainable development and economic growth. Our World Disasters Report shows that the Asia Pacific region experienced the highest number of disasters of any region in the world in 2020-2021 while the MENA region is becoming increasingly more vulnerable to natural hazards likefloods, heatwaves, and droughts. Countries such as China, India, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Iraq suffered intensely, with more than 100 million people affected. Of the countries with the highest rate of affected population per capita, the most affected were Pacific Island States. Barely one month ago, I personally witnessed tropical cyclone Lola in Vanuatu, which left a trail of destruction and left many communities inaccessible to humanitarian assistance. The climate crisis not only threatens lives and livelihoods but also has severe implications for public health. It is a top strategic priority on the global agenda, with COP28 set to take place less than two weeks from now. In this region, exposure to climate-related events is increasing at an alarming rate, with heatwaves endangering lives and air pollution negatively impacting public health. We also see how the climate crisis is uprooting people. Seventy percent of global disaster-induced displacements occur across Asia and the Pacific in 2022. More than 22 million people were internally displaced in this region due to climate induced disasters in 2022 alone. While the majority were able to return home, 4 million remained displaced at the end of the year. We are all watching with heartbreak and horror the nightmarish number of displaced people, injuries, and fatalities across Gaza Strip. The humanitarian needs in these areas are staggering and devastating. Respect for Geneva conventions has been a major challenge. Magen David Adom is continuing their response to support the affected populations, often from bomb shelters. The situation of hostages remains heartbreaking. Palestine Red Crescent is working around the clock without electricity, fuel, water supply and basic shelter for people displaced directly. Hospitals have been damaged., Patients including children are not getting the care they need. The situation is unimaginable. I personally witnessed the incredible work of the Egyptian Red Crescent last week in my visit to the Rafah border. Our National Societies are responding with urgency and compassion as the primary provider of humanitarian delivery to Gaza through the PRCS. In these difficult times, we must remain united and work as a collective Movement. I reiterate my call on all parties for safe and unhindered humanitarian access, protection and assistance across the Gaza Strip and respect for international humanitarian law. Civilians, hospitals, ambulances, and humanitarian workers must be protected at all times. What this Conference can do? These are massive challenges that we cannot tackle in isolation. This conference is a unique opportunity to draw inspiration and learn from one another at a time when the world is facing increasing adversity and calamity. Today, let us summon a renewed spirit of Unity, Trust and Principled Humanitarian Action that defines who we are as a network and that help us to make a meaningful contribution to the people and communities here in the region and around the world. First—Unity— this is paramount in addressing these challenges. The Asia, Pacific and the Middle East regions are vast, culturally rich, and beautifully diverse. Together, they constitute 65 percent-- more than half of the world's population, a powerful representation of humanity. Diversity is our strength and is what unifies our IFRC network. As Mahatma Gandhi once said: ‘Unity in diversity is the highest possible attainment of a civilization, a testimony to the most noble possibilities of the human race." Our task as humanitarians is to see beyond the numbers and focus on the individuals and communities that make up this dynamic and colorful part of the world. Regardless of their background, gender, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, people and communities have their own unique humanitarian needs and aspirations, and we must strive to address them in all their complexity. I am reminded of a Vietnamese proverb which beautifully captures the essence of mutual help and unity: "Good leaves protect torn leaves." Let us be inspired by this spirit as we work together to alleviate the suffering of those in need. The focus of this 11th Asia Pacific Regional Conference on becoming "disaster ready" is both critical and timely. Our network has the experience and tools needed to prepare for and handle disasters. Now we need to unite our efforts and scale up. IFRC Strategy 2030 and the Agenda for Renewal is our blueprint to navigate the changing landscape ahead. We must focus on how we work together, how we take lessons from our history to apply them to the shifting trends of the present so that we can make the changes we want to see for the future. Informed decision-making and risk management will be the key to our continued relevance as an IFRC network. We've committed resources to expand digitalization, enhance risk management, and implement new funding models to increase agility, accountability, and impact for community reach. We cultivate knowledge and fortify the capacities of National Societies, positioning ourselves as leaders not only in humanitarian response but also in resilience building, data utilization, influence, collaboration, and innovation. We continue to advocate on behalf of National Societies and influence governments and public authorities to remain committed to humanitarian action and financing. Through innovative financing, we are unlocking new donors and sources of funding. I am very pleased to note that this Asia Pacific Conference is entirely self-financed from the region, a significant milestone. When I meet Asia, Pacific and ME National Societies and volunteers, I see how young people in these regions are engaging in entrepreneurship and exploring innovative ideas for addressing climate change risks. We need to shift our investment to these young people. Let’s harness their innovative ideas, their entrepreneurial spirit, their technological skills. They are the leaders of today and our gateway to a safer and more equitable world. Second--Trust remains the cornerstone of our work. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the devastating effects of a lack of trust in institutions and governments. Misinformation continues to fuel unrest and instability and exacerbate geopolitical divides. "In trust, we find the deepest wells of strength and integrity." This ancient Persian proverb serves as a poignant reminder that trust is the vital bridge connecting our potential to the tangible impact of our humanitarian action. We must be trusted by the communities we serve. Our duty is to provide humanitarian assistance of high quality that positively impacts people's lives, mitigates their risks and vulnerabilities, and augments their capabilities and potential. All of this is contingent upon our unwavering commitment to our Fundamental Principles. These principles form the bedrock of a fair and inclusive society. They are our moral compass. These principles fortify resilience, encourage stability, and nurture the prosperity of current and future generations. Let us incorporate them into our endeavours, discuss them in our conversations, embody them in our actions, impart their significance, and ensure understanding among populations, partners, and donors. Third – Neutral, Impartial and Independent Humanitarian Action: All over the world, National Societies are striving to fulfil their auxiliary role in often politicized and polarized environments, emphasizing the need for humanitarian action to be rooted in independence and neutrality. The tensions between our principles of independence and neutrality and the National Societies Auxiliary role are of increasing concern and puts our collective mission on the line. A National Red Cross and Red Crescent law serves as a passport to engage in dialogue with public authorities in a way that respects the fundamental principles. I encourage you all to explore how to strengthen National Red Cross and Red Crescent laws in your countries. Colleagues, Across this region, there are communities in dire need of our assistance and the locally led actions of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The challenges may seem complex and insurmountable, but, as an Afghan proverb wisely tells us, "There is a road to the top of even the highest mountain." Let us work together with dedication, unity, and the unwavering commitment to our principles to bring relief, hope, and resilience to those who need it most. Before I close, listening to some of the presentations from our young colleagues I want to share a thought about the future. We spend time, energy, and research to define what the future should look like. But while we do that there are a lot of people in parallel working to shape the future. They are not waiting for what the future may look like. They are working hard to shape it now. I believe that if we harness the power of young volunteers, we can be on the side of creating the future we want, rather than waiting for the future to happen and constantly responding. This is my call to all of us. Let us be on the side of creating our future. We can contribute to shaping the future if we listen to our young colleagues. Thank you.

Kuala Lumpur/Geneva, 18 August 2021:Southeast Asia is battling the world’s highest COVID-19 death toll driven by the Delta variant and unequal global distribution of vaccines. Hospitals remain overwhelmed by record surges across Southeast Asia, from Vietnam to Malaysia and Myanmar as fears mount of greater suffering and loss of life with COVID-19 spreading from cities to rural and regional areas. In the last two weeks, Southeast Asia has recorded38,522 deaths from COVID-19, nearly twice as many as North America, according to theJohn Hopkins UniversityCOVID-19 data dashboard. Alexander Matheou, Asia Pacific Director, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said: “This COVID-19 surge driven by the Delta variant is claiming a tragic toll on families across Southeast Asia and it’s far from over. We fear that as the virus spreads from cities to regional and rural areas that many more lives will be lost among the unvaccinated. “Vaccinations are at record rates in some countries, yet many Southeast Asian nations have low portions of the population fully vaccinated and are languishing far behind Western Europe and North America.” The United Kingdom has fully vaccinated 60 per cent of its population, while Canada and Spain stand at around 64 per cent, according to Oxford University’sOur World in Data. By contrast, Malaysia has fully vaccinated 34 per cent of its population against COVID-19, Indonesia and Philippines, close to 11 per cent and Vietnam less than 2 per cent. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and most Southeast Asia countries are all battling record COVID-19 infections or death tolls. Seven of the top 10 countries where COVID-19 deaths have doubled the fastest are in Asia and the Pacific, with Vietnam, Fiji and Myanmar all in the top five, according toOur World in Data. “In the short-term, we need much greater efforts by richer countries to urgently share their millions of excess vaccine doses with countries in Southeast Asia. We also need vaccine companies and governments to share technology and scale up production,”Mr Matheou said. “These coming weeks are critical for scaling up treatment, testing and vaccinations, in every corner of all countries in Southeast Asia. We must aim for mass vaccination rates of 70-80 per cent if we want to win the race against the variants and overcome this global pandemic.” Until vaccination levels reach a critical mass, in the short-term it is also crucial to reinforce health protection measures, such as wearing a mask, physical distance and meeting outdoors or in well ventilated spaces. The IFRC is seeking vital funding for its global emergency COVID-19 appeal, with around 60% of the appeal covered so far. The funds are crucial to support the lifesaving actions of the IFRC and member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies around the world. Photos of Red Cross and Red Crescent activities are available for download

Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta/Geneva, 13 July 2021:A deadly wave of COVID-19 fuelled by the Delta variant is crashing into South East Asia as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns of a widening global vaccine divide. Countries across South East Asia from Indonesia to Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar are facing hospitals full and overwhelmed while many race to roll out vaccines. Around 10,000 COVID-19 infections are being recorded in Thailand a day, more than four times a month ago, while deaths have also reached record highs. Infections in Viet Nam have surged past 2,000 a day, close to 10 times more than in early June. Richer countries such as the United Kingdom have fully vaccinated more than half their populations. Viet Nam has fully vaccinated less than 1 per cent, Thailand around 5 per cent and Indonesia 5.5 per cent, according toOxford University’s COVID-19 Our World in Data. Alexander Matheou Asia Pacific Director, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said: “Millions of people in Asia are living on the cruel and sharp edge of a global vaccine divide between richer countries that have a steady supply and most nations in Asia that are struggling to access sufficient doses to keep their populations safe. “There is mounting evidence that COVID-19 vaccinations are already saving tens of thousands of lives around the world.” Across Asia, thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are racing to vaccinate people alongside health authorities, yet vaccinations are struggling to keep pace with the variants and the spread of the virus. “It is encouraging that a number of richer countries have made generous pledges and donations of vaccines to countries in Asia in recent weeks,” said Mr Matheou. “We need to speed up the delivery of these lifesaving doses so that we can get them in to people’s arms, giving us a genuine shot at containing this pandemic once and for all.” The IFRC is seeking vital funding for its global emergency COVID-19 appeal, with around 60 per cent of the appeal covered so far. The funds are crucial to support the lifesaving actions of the IFRC and member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies around the world.

The Empress Shôken Fund is named after Her Majesty the Empress of Japan, who proposed – at the 9th International Conference of the Red Cross – the creation of an international fund to promote relief work in peacetime. It is administered by the Joint Commission of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which maintains close contact with the Japanese Permanent Mission in Geneva, the Japanese Red Cross Society and the Meiji Jingu Research Institute in Japan. The Fund has a total value of over 16 million Swiss francs and supports projects run by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to benefit their communities in various ways. The first grant was awarded in 1921, to help five European National Societies fight the spread of tuberculosis. Since then, 169 National Societies have received 14 million Swiss francs. To mark the Fund’s 100th year of awarding grants, a short video was developed to highlight what the Fund stands for and showcase how it has supported National Societies through the years. The imperial family, the Japanese government, the Japanese Red Cross and the Japanese people revere the memory of Her Majesty Empress Shôken, and their enduring regard for the Fund is evident in the regularity of their contributions to it. The grants are usually announced every year on 11 April, the anniversary of her death. This year the announcement is being published earlier due to the weekend. The selection process The Fund received 28 applications in 2021 covering a diverse range of humanitarian projects run by National Societies in every region of the world. This year the Joint Commission agreed to allocate a total of 475,997 Swiss francs to 16 projects in Argentina, the Bahamas, Benin, Costa Rica, Estonia, Georgia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, South Sudan, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The projects to be supported in 2021 cover a number of themes, including youth engagement, disaster preparedness, National Society development and health, especially the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Fund continues to encourage new and innovative approaches with the potential to generate insights that will benefit the Movement as a whole. The 2021 grants The Argentine Red Cross is taking an innovative approach to talent management using new technologies. It will use the grant to develop a talent-management module to be implemented in 65 branches, enabling the National Society to attract and retain employees and volunteers. The Bahamas Red Cross Society will put the grant towards building staff and volunteers’ capacities and expanding its network on five islands, with a view to implementing community- and ecosystem-based approaches to reducing disaster risk and increasing climate resilience. The Red Cross of Benin seek to help vulnerable women become more autonomous. The grant will support them in developing income-generating activities and building their professional skills. The Costa Rica Red Cross will use the grant to enable communities in the remote Cabécar and Bribri indigenous territories to better manage emergencies, holding workshops on first aid, risk prevention and emergency health care in connection with climate events and health emergencies, including COVID-19. The Estonia Red Cross is working to build competencies in four key areas, including in recruiting, training and retaining volunteers. The funds will support the development of a volunteer database to help effectively manage information, especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. With widespread COVID-19 transmission in Georgia, the Georgia Red Cross Society is working to help national authorities limit the impact of the pandemic. It will put the grant towards promoting good hygiene and raising awareness of the importance of vaccination. The Red Crescent Society of Islamic Republic of Iran is focused on building local capacity with youth volunteers by boosting small businesses in outreach areas. The grant will be used for training, capacity-building and development in local partner institutions, generating income for community members. The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have affected how the Kenya Red Cross Society does its humanitarian work. The grant will be used to launch an online volunteer platform to encourage and facilitate youth volunteering. The Malawi Red Cross Society must be ready to respond to disasters due to climate variability and climate change. The funds will allow the National Society to establish a pool of trained emergency responders who can swing into action within 72 hours of a disaster. The Nicaraguan Red Cross is working to protect the elderly from COVID-19. The grant will be used in three care homes located in the municipalities of Somoto, Sébaco and Jinotepe to provide medical assistance, prevent and control infections, and promote mental health as a basic element of self-care through training and support sessions and other activities. The Pakistan Red Crescent seeks to improve how it manages blood donations. The funds will enable the National Society to increase the capacity of its blood donor centre and raise awareness of voluntary unpaid blood donation by holding World Blood Donor Day in 2021. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for All project of the Philippine Red Cross aims to develop WASH guidelines and promote them in the community. The grant will be used for training and capacity-building around providing health services in emergencies. In Romania, teenagers in residential centres are vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence for a number of reasons, including a lack of both psychosocial education and staff trained in dealing with this kind of violence through trauma-informed care. The grant will enable the Red Cross of Romania to reduce the vulnerability of 60 teenagers in residential centres by increasing knowledge and aiding the development of safe relationships. The South Sudan Red Cross is working to encourage young people to adapt to climate change by planting fruit trees. The grant will support this initiative, which aims to reduce the impact of climate change and increase food production. In 2020 the Timor-Leste Red Cross launched an education programme aimed at increasing young people’s knowledge about reproductive health. The funds will be used to expand the programme – already active in five of the National Society’s branches – to the remaining eight branches. The Viet Nam Red Cross aims to further engage with authorities and become more self-sufficient through fundraising. It will use the grant to build its personnel’s capacities by providing training courses on proposal writing, project management and social welfare.

Kuala Lumpur, 16 March 2021 – A new report reveals 12.6 million people have been internally displaced around the world in the last six months mainly due to climate and weather-related disasters, according to data available through the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) report, Responding to Disasters and Displacement in a Changing Climate, comes hot on the heels of a record-breaking 26 climate-related disaster response operations launched across Asia and the Pacific in 2020. Helen Brunt, Asia Pacific Migration and Displacement Coordinator, IFRC said: “In just the last six months, there have been 12.6 million people internally displaced around the world and over 80 per cent of these forced displacements have been caused by disasters, most of which are triggered by climate and weather extremes. “Asia suffers much more than any other region from climate disaster-related displacements. These upheavals are taking a terrible toll on some of the poorest communities already reeling from the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has complicated the provision of humanitarian support to displaced communities, with greater space needed when evacuating, along with increased safety protocols. Longer term support is also more complicated for people with shattered livelihoods. “We are seeing an alarming trend of people displaced by more extreme weather events such as Typhoon Goni, the world’s most ferocious storm last year, that smashed into the Philippines. Three storms hit the Philippines in as many weeks, leaving over 3 million people destitute. “We need greater action and urgent investment to reduce internal displacement caused by the rising risk of disasters. Investing much more in local organisations and first responders is critical so they have the resources needed to protect lives, homes and their communities.” The report analyses climate-related displacement as well as a post-earthquake response across eight countries, examining response by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in coordination with governments and other agencies. The research finds that displacement disproportionately affects already marginalised and at-risk groups including women, children, the elderly, people with a disability, migrants and refugees. When disasters destroy villages and entire neighbourhoods, the report shows that people also face long-term housing, land and property issues. Women and children are also confronted with increased risks of violence due to climate-related displacement. “Investment in long-term solutions is urgently needed before disasters force more people away from their homes, livelihoods and communities,” said Ms Brunt. About IFRC IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world. www.ifrc.org-Facebook-Twitter-YouTube Note to editors: The figure of 12.6 million displaced in the past 6 months includes 2.3 million conflict displacements. The remaining 10.3 million are displaced due to disasters triggered by natural hazards, mainly related to climate and weather extremes, but also including a small number of geophysical hazard events, particularly earthquakes. The figures come from analysis of publicly available data provided by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

Kuala Lumpur/Hanoi/Geneva, 14 November 2020 – Millions of people in Viet Nam are bracing themselves for further floods and landslides, as the thirteenth big storm of the year threatens the country’s hard-hit central provinces. Typhoon Vamco has caused severe flooding in Manila and across the Philippines and is now due to hit Viet Nam in areas already pummelled by successive storms. More than 400,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by the series of storms that have hit the central provinces over the past six weeks. Roads and bridges have been washed away, power supplies disrupted, and crucial food crops destroyed, leaving at least 150,000 people at immediate risk of food shortages. Madam Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, Viet Nam Red Cross Society President, said: “There has been no respite for more than eight million people living in central Viet Nam. Each time they start rebuilding their lives and livelihoods, they are pummelled by yet another storm. This is heartbreaking for even the most resilient communities. "Our greatest concerns are for the elderly and poor, as well as some 400,000 families whose homes have been destroyed or damaged and who now face this latest storm while living in temporary shelters or crowded in with relatives.” Viet Nam Red Cross has mobilised one of its biggest relief operations ever in response to these storms, providing important relief such as food, drinking water, blankets and cooking equipment to communities devastated by floods and landslides. Working on multiple fronts, Red Cross is helping communities prepare for the latest severe storm, including working with local authorities to sandbag properties and evacuate communities. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 3.9 million Swiss Francs to fund relief and recovery efforts for an estimated 160,000 people. Christopher Rassi, Director of the Office of the Secretary General and acting Head of Country Cluster Delegation in Bangkok, IFRC, said: “These repeated storms are having a massive impact on even the toughest of people in central Viet Nam. They need urgent immediate relief, and support for the long rebuilding process. “Now and in the coming weeks we are redoubling our efforts to get critical relief supplies, food, drinking water, tarpaulins and blankets to all those who need it so that people can get back on their feet as soon as possible and rebuild their lives.”

Kuala Lumpur/Hanoi/Geneva, 29 October 2020–A major typhoon has devastated areas of central Vietnam, with dozens of people feared dead in tragic landslides in Quang Nam. There are 53 people buried and feared dead in two landslides caused by the storm, according to Vietnam Government authorities and Red Cross teams have been working through the night to help with rescue efforts. The storm has worsened floods in areas of central Vietnam and has caused fresh flooding in new areas, including the central highlands near the Laos border. MadamNguyen Thi Xuan Thu,Viet Nam Red CrossSociety President said: “We are heartbroken by more tragic loss of life as this typhoon has brought further misery and hardships to hundreds of thousands of people in central Vietnam. Around 89,000 homes have roofs blown off, with many destroyed by this storm.” “Red Cross relief teams are working non-stop to rescue people and provide critical relief as hundreds of thousands of lives have been turned upside down with so many homes and livelihoods devastated in this massive storm.” Infrastructure has been damaged including electricity and roads, with over 700 communities without power. More food crops and safe drinking water supplies have also been damaged or destroyed in regions of Vietnam already reeling from some of the worst flooding in decades. Nguyen Hung Ha, Bangkok based Program Coordinator, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said: “This massive storm is another crippling blow to millions of people already struggling to cope with some of the most dangerous floods on record in central Vietnam.” “Relief teams are stretched to the limit due to these back-to back storms. We must redouble our efforts to get critical relief supplies, food, drinking water, tarpaulins and blankets to all those who need it in the coming days and weeks,” Mr Nguyen Hung Ha said. In response to the existing flooding and impacts as a result of Typhoon Molave, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 3.9 million Swiss Francs to fund relief and recovery efforts for an estimated 160,000 people. IFRC has already provided 500,000 Swiss francs to support local emergency efforts. It is estimated that at least 150,000 people are at immediate risk of food shortages and hunger after thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed, while over 2 million cattle and poultry are dead or swept away in some of the worst flooding in decades. About IFRC IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world.www.ifrc.org-Facebook-Twitter-YouTube

Kuala Lumpur/Hanoi/Geneva, 28 October, 2020 – Catastrophic floods across central Vietnam have already ruined the homes of more than one million people as yet another major storm takes aim for the battered region. In excess of 310,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed by recent flooding, leaving close to 1.2 million people in severe danger and in need of relief. Now, as Typhoon Molave bears down on Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of people remain in need of shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, food and livelihoods support after four major storms in the past month have caused severe flooding in the country’s central provinces. Typhoon Molave is making landfall today, 28 October, bringing with it destructive winds and yet more rain. In response to the existing flooding, and in anticipation of further impacts as a result of Typhoon Molave, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 3.9 million Swiss Francs to fund relief and recovery efforts for an estimated 160,000 people. IFRC has already provided nearly 300,000 Swiss francs to support local emergency efforts. Mdm. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, President, Viet Nam Red Cross Society, said the agency’s staff and volunteers are supporting the government with a mass evacuation of 1.3 million people who are in the path of Typhoon Molave: “The people of Vietnam are tough, yet this is among the worst destruction ever seen in many areas. The relentless storms and flooding are taking a devastating human toll, further destroying livelihoods and isolating millions of people. “We are mounting one of our biggest relief operations ever, to provide critical relief including food, blankets, tarpaulins and cooking equipment. All our hard work in containing the social and economic fallout of COVID-19 is being undone by these massive storms hitting us one after the other,” Madam Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said. It is estimated that at least 150,000 people are at immediate risk of food shortages and hunger after thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed, while over 2 million cattle and poultry are dead or swept away in some of the worst flooding in decades. Christopher Rassi, acting Head of IFRC’s Country Cluster Delegation in Bangkok, said: “These relentless storms are yet another example of the devastating impact of climate change. More storms mean worse floods and catastrophic damage for the people and economy of Vietnam. “We must act swiftly as people are in urgent need of short-term relief and longer-term assistance to restore food security and livelihoods and to rebuild ruined homes,” Mr Rassi said. About IFRC IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world.www.ifrc.org-Facebook-Twitter-YouTube

Photo: Viet Nam Red Cross Society Kuala Lumpur/Hanoi/Geneva, October 20, 2020 – Red Cross is ramping up relief as catastrophic floods have affected five million people in central Vietnam. At least 178,000 homes have been submerged in floodwaters that have also destroyed food crops. Close to 690,000 poultry and livestock have been killed or swept away. Mdm. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, President, Viet Nam Red Cross Society said: “These devastating floods are some of the worst we have seen in decades and they are dealing a staggering blow to the livelihoods of millions of people already reeling from hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.” “Everywhere we look, homes, roads and infrastructure have been submerged. We’re doing our best to get immediate relief to people by boat, by air and on land, including food, safe water, tarpaulins and other essentials”. Viet Nam Red Cross disaster response teams have been working alongside local authorities in all provinces to provide relief assistance as the floods and landslides worsen by the hour. Christopher Rassi, Director of the Office of the Secretary General and acting Head of Country Cluster Delegation in Bangkok, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said: “We are seeing a deadly double disaster unfold before our eyes as these floods compound the difficulties caused by COVID-19. These floods are the last straw and will push millions of people further towards the brink of poverty.” “Hundreds of thousands of people are in urgent need of emergency shelter, safe drinking water, food, and income support in the coming days and weeks to prevent a larger humanitarian crisis,” Mr. Rassi said. The IFRC has released 297,349 Swiss Francs (US$ 324,853) to support Viet Nam Red Cross relief activities. High-resolution photos can bedownloaded here. About IFRC IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world.www.ifrc.org-Facebook-Twitter-YouTube

Hanoi, Viet Nam, October 14, 2020 – Close to a million people have been severely affected by prolonged flooding in central Viet Nam as the country faces another major tropical storm and further dangerous floods. Red Cross holds grave fears that deadly floods, which have submerged the country’s central provinces over recent days, will worsen as tropical storm Nangka makes landfall today, bringing destructive winds and dumping more rain on hard hit communities. Since the floods began in early October, at least 28 people have been killed, more than 200,000 homes flooded and an estimated 84,000 hectares of crops damaged. Hundreds of thousands of people – many cut off by the floodwater – are now in desperate need of emergency relief. As part of a coordinated relief effort, Viet Nam Red Cross staff and volunteers have been accessing isolated communities by boat to provide emergency shelter, safe drinking water, food and other much needed supplies. More relief supplies are urgently being brought in from other parts of the country. Mr Hoa Nguyen, Deputy Director of External Relations and Development, Viet Nam Red Cross, said: “Our volunteers and staff have been working in the affected areas since the floods began, providing relief supplies to thousands of people, but we need to reach many more as the rain continues and floods worsen. Every day we hear of more families who have lost their homes, their crops and their livelihoods.” Hung Ha Nguyen, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Programme Coordinator said: “These floods are a double whammy making it even tougher for millions of people already grappling with the economic fall-out of COVID-19 that has destroyed incomes and livelihoods.” “Multiple storm fronts will overwhelm even the most prepared and resilient communities, especially on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We need to help ensure families receive the relief they need in the coming days and weeks,” Mr Hung Ha said. About IFRC IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world. www.ifrc.org-Facebook-Twitter-YouTube