Public raises funds for flood-hit provinces

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Nearly a month after the devastation caused by storms Wutip and Nari, people in Vietnam’s central region are still struggling to recover. 

Quang Trach district is one of Quang Binh’s most heavily affected areas. Fields lay devastated, uprooted trees litter the landscape and houses still lack roofs.

Dinh Xuan Hoa’s family who have lived on relief foods during last half a month owns just a battered boat. “We’d have hope as long as we received support to help buy fishing nets and get repairs to the boat,” Hoa said.

Huong Son district was considered as the epicentre of the flooding in Ha Tinh province, devastating villages Son Kim 1 and Son Kim 2.  

The flood swept away a reinforced concrete bridge at Son Kim 2 village.

The terrible flood also swept away Truong Cong Tu’s house. “We’re obviously relieved we survived but all we have left it a cow. I don’t even know how we’ll carry on when my three children go back to school,” said Tu. 

Tu’s village was also destroyed with 27 families losing everything and hundreds of families having to repair devastated houses and fields and a shortage of cattle.

According to vice chairman of Quang Trach district Tran Thanh Duong, apart from support from local and national government, charity teams have attempted to ease the burden. Duong said more than 60 relief teams had visited Quang Trach district.

Charity provided by groups in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Binh Duong had provided clothes, foods and cash to people in flood areas to make ends meet.

VIR and the Thien Tam Fund financed by the Vingroup also visited Quang Trach and Huong Son to provide relief.

VIR’s sponsors, advertisers, employees and reporters raised VND1.2 billion ($57,000) in funds. VIR’s relief teams had handed thousands of gifts worth VND500,000-VND4 million ($23.8-$190.5) to people in flood areas of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.

This small amount of money is providing a helping hand to vulnerable people in flood areas to overcome present difficulties, said VIR’s editor in chief Nguyen Anh Tuan.