Switzerland sends experts and over $1 million to aid Vietnam's typhoon relief efforts

Typhoon Yagi has wreaked havoc in several Southeast Asian countries. Violent winds – followed by torrential rainfall – battered the Philippines, China and then Vietnam, causing widespread destruction. In Vietnam, the severe weather inundated many localities and triggered major landslides. Mountainous regions were especially hard hit. Given the magnitude of the disaster, the Vietnamese authorities issued an appeal for international aid.

Switzerland swiftly offered its assistance. The SDC under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs dispatched a team of six experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit on September 12. The team, comprising specialists in water and sanitation, emergency shelter, and disaster risk reduction, will assist Vietnamese authorities with assessing needs and formulating short- and medium-term responses.

The SDC is also arranging to send relief supplies, including 300 family tents and two water distribution systems capable of serving 10,000 people. In the immediate term, the SDC is liaising with ASEAN to deliver essential goods financed by Switzerland to the affected areas.

The SDC has earmarked one million Swiss francs ($1.17 million) to support the people affected. It is also one of the largest contributors to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC-DREF), which has likewise released funds to support relief operations.

Vietnam is a priority country for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, which is currently exploring the reallocation of some of its activities to address the needs arising from the disaster.

Evacuations and other measures implemented by authorities have helped to minimise the number of victims. Nevertheless, thousands of people need relocating, and to date, several hundred people have been reported dead or missing. Vietnam has not faced a natural catastrophe of this magnitude in over three decades.

Australia donates $2 million to Vietnam in wake of devastating typhoon The Australian government has donated AUD$3 million ($2 million) to Vietnam to help with humanitarian relief, emergency supplies, and other essential services in response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi.

Supermarkets increase orders from the south following Typhoon Yagi Supermarkets have increased orders from southern regions, including Lam Dong, to compensate for supply disruptions caused by Typhoon Yagi in northern Vietnam.

UNICEF concerned for children affected by Typhoon Yagi, ready to support response efforts UNICEF is deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children and families who may have been affected by Typhoon Yagi in China and Vietnam.