HANOI, October 17, 2020 -- Today, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink announced an initial $100,000 in disaster relief funds. These funds will be provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC) to address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities in areas most affected by Tropical Storm Linfa.

Tropical Storm Linfa is the sixth tropical storm to hit Vietnam in 2020 and made landfall on October 11. Subsequently, Tropical Storm Nangka (Tropical Storm #7) made landfall over northeastern Vietnam on October 14. As of October 15, the flooding had adversely affected over 136,000 households - resulting in at least 40 deaths, injuring 15 people, and leaving 29 people missing, according to the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority and American Red Cross. In addition, 150,000 people have been evacuated and significant impacts on transportation networks and agricultural livelihoods have been reported. USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance partner VNRC is on the frontlines of the response and has mobilized rapid disaster response teams established and trained through ongoing USAID disaster risk reduction programs to support evacuation, search and rescue, and emergency response operations.

“The U.S. Mission in Vietnam expresses our deepest condolences to the people of Vietnam for the loss of life, destruction of property, and displacement of people due to the flooding in central Vietnam.  We stand together with the Government and the people of Vietnam as they mourn their loved ones, address the damage caused by this terrible flood, and move forward, as the people of Vietnam have always done. We pledge to assist you in your work to rebuild,” said Ambassador Kritenbrink. “I would also like to express my concern for persons with disabilities in the provinces affected by the typhoon as they are amongst the most vulnerable populations in this disaster. They are often home-bound, have less access to information and cannot take full advantage of preparedness activities and evacuation protocols,” he added. 

It is estimated that the provinces impacted by Tropical Storm Linfa are home to over 200,000 persons with disabilities, of whom 61,000 persons with disabilities are directly affected by this disaster.

Since 2000, USAID, through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, has provided more than $26 million in disaster response, preparedness, and risk reduction assistance in Vietnam. Through the Department of Defense, the U.S. Government has also provided more than $28 million since 1998 to train military and civilian emergency responders and develop and equip disaster management centers, maritime response centers, and disaster shelters at the community level. USAID continues to support Vietnam’s disaster relief efforts and plans are underway to provide additional assistance.

To view pictures of previous USAID disaster response efforts, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmRuz4pB