Dozens of houses in Quang Tri province have been flooded. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J.Kritenbrink onOctober 17 announced an initial 100,000 USD in disaster relief funds forVietnam to address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable communitiesin areas badly hit by Tropical Storm Linfa.
The funds will be provided by the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID) to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC).
Ambassador Kritenbrink expressed condolences tothe people of Vietnam for the loss of life, destruction of property, anddisplacement of people due to the flooding in central Vietnam.
“Westand together with the Government and the people of Vietnam as they mourntheir loved ones, address the damage caused by this terrible flood, and moveforward, as the people of Vietnam have always done. We pledge to assist you inyour work to rebuild,” he said.
The ambassador also expressed his concern for persons with disabilities in theprovinces affected by the storm as they are amongst the most vulnerablepopulations in the disaster.
It is estimated that the provinces impacted by Storm Linfa are home to over200,000 people with disabilities, of whom 61,000 people are directly affectedby this disaster.
Since 2000, the USAID, through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, hasprovided more than 26 million USD to help Vietnam in disaster response,preparedness, and risk reduction. Through the Department of Defence, the USGovernment has also provided more than 28 million USD since 1998 to trainmilitary and civilian emergency responders and develop and equip disastermanagement centres, maritime response centres, and disaster shelters at thecommunity level.
The USAID continues to support Vietnam’s disaster relief efforts and plans areunderway to provide additional assistance./.
VNA
