Flood relief in Khanh Hoa causes controversy: Does being at home when the flood rises count?

Khanh Hoa province provides living support for people in households whose houses are flooded with 1 million VND/person, but only people who were at home when the flood rose are counted.

Most of the houses in the flooded areas in Nha Trang wards (Khanh Hoa) recently suffered damage, many properties and household items were damaged, and garbage was piled up on the side of the road - Photo: PHAN SONG NGAN

On December 5, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Khanh Hoa province Nguyen Duy Quang said that the receipt and distribution of national reserve rice to support people affected by floods in the province (according to the rice allocation decision of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province) had been completed since November 28.

The decision of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee (No. 2192/QD-UBND) on the level of support to overcome the consequences of floods in the province was issued nearly half a month ago, from November 23. In addition to the regulations on support for households with damaged housing, there is also support for living conditions and support for students.

Regulations on support for flood victims in Khanh Hoa are "different and strange" compared to many years ago.

Accordingly, the level of living support for people in households whose houses are flooded, affecting their lives and facing difficulties is 1 million VND/person.

On November 28, Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Tran Phong concluded by requesting agencies, units, and localities to "focus on implementing policies to support households and people affected by floods... to be completed before December 2, 2025".

However, by the afternoon of December 4, many commune and ward leaders said that the support payment had only reached about 80-90% of eligible households.

According to the leader of Tay Nha Trang ward, the whole ward has about 26,800 households declaring that their houses were flooded, damaged, or facing difficulties... The ward has tried to check and pay support money to the people as quickly as possible, but it is expected that it will take around December 10 to be able to pay all the households identified as being supported.

Meanwhile, many people said that the level of damage and hardship that families had to endure in the recent floods was much heavier than natural disasters in recent years.

However, the level of living support (1 million VND/person) according to the province's new regulations this time is "different and strange" compared to previous disaster support regulations.

Specifically, according to Decision No. 2192/QD-UBND of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, the criteria for support on living conditions: "Only count those who have legally registered residence and are actually living in the household when a natural disaster occurs (including households and individuals renting accommodation with temporary residence registration in the area)".

According to the above regulations, families with children and relatives who are "legally registered residents" but are studying or working away from home (such as students studying away from home; employees working for hire in other places...), when the recent floods occurred in Khanh Hoa, were not "actually present at the household" when the house was flooded, collapsed, damaged... so they will not be supported with 1 million VND.

A plumber in the old Ngoc Hiep ward (now Tay Nha Trang ward) commented: recently the Government supported the people (100,000 VND/person) based on the registered population of each household to pay the people, without distinguishing whether the family is present or not.

Mr. Pham Van Chi - former Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, former Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, currently Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Intellectuals Association - also said: "Why is there such a strange regulation? People's children go to school or work far away, but the family's house is flooded, collapsed, damaged... even though they were not at home when the flood or damage occurred, they are still affected and suffer losses along with the family, so why not support them?".

Communes and wards must report and make requests for the department to consider.

All students at campus 2, Vinh Hiep Primary School, in flood-affected areas in Tay Nha Trang ward (Khanh Hoa) were given gifts (backpacks, school supplies) by readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: PHAN SONG NGAN

The leaders of the wards and communes that Tuoi Tre Online reporters spoke to all said that the communes and wards cannot support people "different from the criteria" issued by Khanh Hoa province and the Department of Finance has instructed. "If we do otherwise, after the flood is over and inspections come in and conclude violations, we will all be dead" - said a commune vice chairman.

The reporter reflected that reality to Mr. Nguyen Long Bien - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, who signed the decision on the above mentioned support criteria.

Mr. Bien said that according to regulations, the listing and determination of supported subjects is done by the communes and wards. Regarding the cases of people who are not supported as mentioned above, Mr. Bien initially also thought "why is there such a mechanical and rigid thing" and he said he would request a review to have unified implementation instructions.

But then, Mr. Bien asked the reporter to contact the Director of Khanh Hoa Province Department of Finance for further discussion.

Mr. Chau Ngo Anh Nhan - Director of Khanh Hoa Province Department of Finance, is the advisory body, submitting to the Provincial People's Committee to issue a decision on support criteria - explained that the regulation "only counting people with legal residence registration and physically living in the household when a natural disaster occurs" is to support those directly affected by the recent floods.

"If there are any problems as reported, the People's Committees of communes and wards must have a specific report and request, then the department will report to the province for consideration."

Tuoi Tre Online reporter asked Mr. Nhan again, in case the communes and wards have not reported or did not report on that problem, but the people have complained and reflected, will the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Finance listen to report to the Provincial People's Committee for reconsideration or not?

Mr. Chau Ngo Anh Nhan replied that he "does not comment" on the people's reflection as mentioned and "only explains according to the regulations of Khanh Hoa province".

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SILVER RIVER

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ho-tro-lu-lut-o-khanh-hoa-gay-tranh-cai-co-mat-o-nha-luc-lu-len-moi-duoc-tinh-20251205181826466.htm