Together we overcome the flood

These days, historic floods continue to cause severe damage in many provinces in the Central and Central Highlands. While the floodwaters have not yet receded, the loss of lives, property, homes, crops, etc. is still leaving tens of thousands of households penniless. In such dire circumstances, the spirit of “sharing food and clothes” of the nation is awakened more strongly than ever.

Dak Lak Provincial Police rescued a family with young children and elderly people in Tay Hoa commune. Photo: Minh Anh

The Central region is used to torrential rains and storms, but this time the storm and flood exceeded all forecasts. In many places, the water rose rapidly in just a few hours, sweeping away houses, fields, and livestock; cutting off traffic, making rescue work extremely difficult.

On that narrow and vulnerable strip of land, each time a storm or flood passes, the old wounds have not yet healed, new ones have been deeply engraved. In the Central Highlands, the provinces of Gia Lai , Lam Dong... were also heavily affected. The prolonged torrential rains caused landslides to occur continuously, hundreds of houses were swept away, thousands of hectares of crops, coffee, pepper - the main source of livelihood of the people - were destroyed. Many villages fell into isolation, lacking food, clean water and medicine.

The flood not only swept away property, but also brought about irreparable loss. The tears of mothers who lost their children, wives who lost their husbands, and children who were left alone in an instant made the hearts of the whole country ache.

When storms and floods test the endurance and humanity of Vietnamese people

In the midst of grief, what warms our hearts is the image of humanity. Police, military, and militia forces are working tirelessly to rescue people day and night; trucks carrying relief goods are rushing to the road; makeshift kitchens are smoking amid floodwaters; houses open to take refuge from strangers… All of this seems to recreate the nation’s thousand-year-old tradition of solidarity.

In big cities, a series of volunteer groups, social organizations, unions, businesses and people immediately mobilized donations. A pack of noodles, a few sets of clothes, a bucket of water, a warm blanket or just a few tens of thousands of dong from the poor workers..., all are becoming the support for people in flooded areas to stand firm.

This spirit is not new. It has become the identity of the Vietnamese people - a small but indomitable nation; arduous but loyal; poor but always willing to share. Whenever a natural disaster strikes, the people of the whole country are like a big family: some contribute labor, some contribute money, some contribute words of encouragement, all heading towards the most painful places.

The flood not only challenges humanity, but also requires a more coordinated, responsive and professional response from the entire political system. First of all, emergency relief work must be deployed faster and more accurately, with maximum State resources mobilized, allocated to the right people - right place - right time. Along with that, the media must play the role of an honest and humane "connecting circuit". Accurate information will help coordinate rescue effectively, avoid panic and promptly spread meaningful stories to strengthen people's trust. In the long term, local authorities need to be more proactive in disaster prevention plans: safe residential planning, early warning, dam reinforcement, flood shelter construction, self-rescue training... A ready-to-response system will help minimize losses.

In addition, businesses and socio-political organizations must continue to promote the role of the community. Contributions in finance, equipment, rescue vehicles or post-flood support resources are not only social responsibilities but also the humanitarian mission of units that are developing thanks to the peace of the country.

No one left behind

When the water receded, what remained was not just mud and rubble, but a long and challenging journey of healing. Thousands of houses needed to be rebuilt from the ground up, fertile fields were now barren, children lost their familiar classrooms, and countless workers lost their livelihoods after just one flood. The disaster had passed, but the “battle” to stabilize life had only just begun.

Therefore, we cannot stop at emergency relief. What our people need now are long-term and sustainable recovery policies: preferential loans for farmers to resume production; restore schools, health stations, bridges and roads; provide suitable plant and animal varieties to restart the crop season; organize community medical examination and treatment, prevent epidemics after floods; and create temporary jobs for workers who have lost their income. That is not only the task of the State but also the common responsibility of the whole nation. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a brick laid on the journey to rebuild life. Because the peace of a land is not only their concern but the peace of the whole nation - of all of us.

Members of Thien Son Charity Club (Tho Son commune, Dong Nai province) connect the community and mobilize resources to support flood victims in the Central region. Photo: Thi Huong

In the history of the nation, the Vietnamese people have never succumbed to natural disasters. From great floods, century-old storms to devastating landslides..., our people still stand up, rebuild their houses, start new crops, and build a new life together. That strength does not come from material things, but first of all from human love - the nation's most intangible but lasting asset. In storms and floods, an outstretched hand can save an entire family. A word of encouragement can help people in flooded areas become stronger to move forward. A timely sharing can save a child from hunger and cold. That is the reason why, despite natural disasters, the Vietnamese people still overcome them with compassion, solidarity, and a "fiery" heart that refuses to give up.

From the heart - for every heart

Today, when the Central Highlands is struggling with floods, we cannot and must not stand aside. The pain of our compatriots is not only the pain of a land but a cut into the very body of the nation. To heal, to rise, no one other than us - the Vietnamese people - must join hands. Each person a little, each family a part, each organization a responsibility will create the strength of a nation that always knows how to love and protect each other in times of trouble. That joining hands can start from the simplest things: a text message sent to the support hotline; a box of instant noodles, a few bottles of water, a warm coat sent to the flooded area; a donation from a business or collective agency; an article sharing correct information, a word of encouragement sent to the rescue force; or a charity car ride through the flood to bring the warmth of our compatriots far away.

No contribution is too small when it comes from the heart. No action is meaningless when it helps a family stand firm, a child return to school, or a person regain faith to continue living. When hearts turn to each other, we will create a strength large enough to lift our fellow countrymen through the storms and floods.

Tam Hiep Ward Police received goods from residents of the neighborhood to support people in flood-affected areas. Photo: Cong Nghia

These days, floods are exposing the fragility of human beings in the face of nature - but at the same time, they also show the boundless power of Vietnamese kindness. We cannot change the laws of weather, but we can turn loss into hope, tragedy into motivation, pain into strength to rebuild our lives.

The floods will pass, but what we leave behind is our responsibility: not only to provide relief but also to support; not only to help but also to accompany; not only to give but also to share with all our hearts. Because only when we join hands to overcome difficulties can this nation truly be strong, and only when no one is left behind can the country move forward firmly - no matter how many storms lie ahead.

Tu Huu Cong

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202511/cung-nhau-vuot-qua-lu-du-7eb1c48/