Airlines, railway ramp up activities to support flood-hit provinces

Vietjet provides free transportation of relief goods on flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Binh and Nghe An.(Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – Vietnamese carriers and the railway sector have carried out a wide range of activities to support central localities where people are suffering heavy losses from devastating floods.

Low-cost Vietjet decided donate 10,000 VND for each ticket sold from now to November 21 to help people in the flood-hit region. The donated money will be transferred to authorities and charity funds to buy essentials as well as to support residents in flood-affected areas to restore their lives and overcome the hard time.

Additionally, since October 19, Vietjet has been providing free transportation and priority for relief goods on the earliest flights which departure from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to airports in Chu Lai (Quang Nam), Da Nang (Da Nang), Phu Bai (Thua Thien Hue), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) and Vinh (Nghe An).

The airline also gives free air tickets to officials of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front and People's Committees of provinces and cities who have duties at the central region during this period.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Vietnam Airlines Group (including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vasco) said the carriers have delivered over 24 tonnes of relief items sent by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Vietnam Red Cross Society at all levels as well as organisations and inpiduals across the nation to flood victims.

The group will continue to increase transportation capacity to the central region, and transport more than 100 tonnes of relief goods free of charge.

Besides, its staff has donated 800 million VND (over 34,400 USD) to help flood-hit localities.

Despite difficulties in infrastructure and transportation, the railway sector has joined efforts to support the central region by shipping relief goods free of charge. As of October 21, some 30 tonnes of goods were transported to Hue Station in Thua Thien-Hue province, Dong Hoi Station in Quang Binh province and Dong Ha Station in Quang Tri province.

Floods that began on October 6 in the central region have killed more than 100 people and left many missing. Thousands of homes have been submerged and thousands of hectares of crops have been damaged.