Sharing with people in flood-affected areas

These days, millions of people from all over the country are turning their hearts to the people affected by natural disasters in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, and Lang Son.

Soldiers and students put books and notebooks out to dry at Huu Lung Ethnic Boarding Middle and High School, Lang Son province. (Photo: THANH DAT)

“Through hardship, we understand each other deeply…”

During the floods, solidarity, sharing, support and helping families in difficulty were strongly fueled. In three central wards of Cao Bang province and border communes, people organized cooking points and distributed tens of thousands of free meals to single people and families affected by floods.

Ms. Cu Thi Vien, owner of a restaurant under Cao Bang General Trading Joint Stock Company, shared that during the two floods, her restaurant cooked and distributed 870 free meals, 10 boxes of filtered water, and 10 boxes of instant noodles to people in flooded areas. Ingredients and necessities were contributed by the restaurant, people, and the Thuc Phan ward government.

Receiving the supported meal, Mr. Vu Duc Nam, in Thuc Phan ward shared: “My house was flooded more than 2m deep, the kitchen and food were damaged, and there was no condition to cook rice. My family had to eat instant noodles and bread for the past few days. Receiving the supported meal, I really feel warm in my heart.”

On this occasion, the Cao Bang Provincial Women's Union visited, gave gifts, and encouraged many women's families in difficult circumstances. Many women organized kitchens to cook rice and distribute meals to many people. Chairwoman of the Cao Bang Provincial Women's Union Doan Thi Le An shared that although the gifts and support money were not large, they were full of warmth, sharing, and support for members to overcome difficulties and losses after the flood.

On October 11, many communes and wards in the north of Thai Nguyen province formed working groups to head south to help overcome the consequences of floods. In addition to donating money and necessities, the groups also participated in cleaning up and sanitizing the environment. At dawn, 102 officials, civil servants and representatives of Nghia Ta commune traveled nearly 100 km to Dong Hy commune, divided into three groups to support overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune Ha Duy Thai said: "We cleaned up the headquarters and schools, then continued to help the homeless clean up their houses." On the same day, 140 officials and civil servants of Cho Don commune also went to Gia Sang ward, the most flooded area in the recent flood. As soon as they arrived, the members spread out to do a general cleaning at Gia Sang Kindergarten and 915 Gia Sang Primary and Secondary School. Previously, Cho Don commune had donated 50 million VND to help Gia Sang ward overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

In addition to large-scale relief programs, there are countless simple acts of kindness spreading throughout the community. Floodwaters have submerged many sections of National Highway 1. Father and son Nguyen Van Ha and Nguyen Van Hung, owners of a pho restaurant in Ngoc Thanh village, Huu Lung commune (Lang Son), volunteered to lead groups of cars through the flooded road. They also prepared bottles of cool water and handed them out to waiting passersby.

Also on Highway 1, driver Duong Van Thinh and many other tractor drivers on the Hanoi-Lang Son route volunteered to transport people and motorbikes through deep flooding. In the central wards of Thai Nguyen, many young people volunteered to support the rescue team, bringing people out of flooded areas, and even acting as pilots on relief boats. There were young people who rowed rafts every day to find drinking water and food for dozens of households in residential areas.

Cleaning up and overcoming the consequences of rain and floods in Cao Bang province. (Photo: MINH TUAN)

People across the country turn to flood-affected areas

On October 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 2241/QD-TTg providing emergency funding for Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bac Ninh provinces to overcome the consequences of floods (second time).

Accordingly, support for Thai Nguyen is 250 billion VND, Cao Bang 50 billion VND, Lang Son 50 billion VND, Bac Ninh 50 billion VND. The People's Committees of these localities are responsible for managing and using the above-mentioned additional funds, ensuring compliance with legal regulations, correct purposes, correct subjects, publicity, transparency, no loss or negativity; at the same time, report the results of use to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

From all provinces and cities across the country, many agencies, units and individuals also turned to the flood victims in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces.

On Saturday, October 11, on the hillside of Khoat village, the water was still rising. This was the place chosen by the government of Bo Ha commune, Bac Ninh province as the point to receive relief goods. Convoys of vehicles with license plates from many provinces and cities lined up to enter, carrying gift packages from people everywhere. Besides the vehicles of organizations, there were also many vehicles of individuals quietly contributing to share the difficulties with the people.

Ms. Kim Thoa, a reporter for Construction Newspaper, said that upon hearing that her hometown was surrounded by floods, she and her husband pooled their savings and called on friends and colleagues to donate some money to buy essential goods to send to people in the flooded areas.

Amidst the immense floodwaters, Mr. Nguyen Van An and his wife, Ms. Luong Thanh Huyen, temporarily put aside their work in Hanoi, left their children with relatives, then bought a motorboat to return home to help the people of Tan Nhien village, Van Nham commune (Lang Son province). For many days, the couple not only brought the elderly and children to safety, but also provided instant noodles and drinking water to many people in the village.

Last weekend, the 327th Division, under the Air Defense-Air Force, traveled nearly 1,000 km from Da Nang to deliver 17 tons of rice, 600 boxes of instant noodles, and many medicines, life jackets, and life buoys to Thai Nguyen province. Many trucks carrying goods from Ho Chi Minh City, Dak Lak, etc. also rushed to Thai Nguyen.

Preliminary statistics as of the afternoon of October 11 show that more than 40 volunteer groups have come to support the people of Thai Nguyen province through the Fatherland Front and the provincial Red Cross. Many medical facilities in provinces and cities also sent working groups to support Thai Nguyen in environmental treatment, disease prevention and control, and health care for the people.

On October 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 2241/QD-TTg to provide emergency funding for Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bac Ninh provinces to overcome the consequences of floods (the second time). Accordingly, Thai Nguyen will receive 250 billion VND, Cao Bang 50 billion VND, Lang Son 50 billion VND, and Bac Ninh 50 billion VND.

Notably, many businesses have proactively applied modern technology to support quick and effective relief. In Bac Ninh, Viettel Group used specialized drones for the first time to transport relief goods to isolated areas.

Major Nguyen Trong Dang, Deputy Director of Viettel Bac Ninh, said: On October 10, the group mobilized 8 specialized staff and 5 drones to Dong Ky commune to deliver relief goods to people in flood-hit areas. Despite the bad weather, the team successfully transported more than 300 kg of goods to people. Each specialized drone can carry 50 kg of goods. In the morning, the team successfully transported several tons of relief goods to people in flood-hit areas of Da Mai ward. In the afternoon, the team moved to Bo Ha commune. If the weather is favorable, the Group's drone team can successfully transport dozens of tons of relief goods to isolated people every day, especially in places where boats and canoes cannot reach.

Many organizations, depending on their capabilities, have provided very practical forms of support. 90 members of the Thanh Hoa Motorcycle Technical Association organized a free motorcycle repair program for people in flooded areas from October 12-14. The Thai Nguyen Electronics and Refrigeration Association organized free repairs and maintenance of household electrical appliances for people affected by floods...

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/se-chia-voi-dong-bao-vung-lu-lut-395621.html