The Vietnamese spirit overcomes storms and floods.

Through the Fatherland Front and other mass organizations, hundreds of billions of dong have been contributed by the people to help rescue and rebuild areas devastated by storms and floods.

Due to the influence of the circulation of Typhoon No. 11 (Typhoon Matmo), Bac Ninh province has experienced very heavy rainfall in recent days. Combined with the torrential floodwaters from upstream, the water levels of the Thuong and Cau rivers have risen above record flood levels. By the afternoon of October 10th, many communes in Bac Ninh province, such as Bo Ha, Tien Luc, and Hop Thinh, were still submerged in water.

A sight unprecedented in history.

Mr. Tran Van Ngai (Dong Kenh village, Bo Ha commune) is still reeling from the shock of seeing the floodwaters engulfing Bo Ha commune in recent days. "I've lived here for 70 years and have never seen flooding like this. Even the record flood of 1986 was still 1 meter lower than the current water level," he said.

Along the Thuong River, the water flowed turbulently. On the way to Bo Ha on the afternoon of October 10th, the group of reporters from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper had to hitch a ride with vehicles from the 409th Tank Brigade, Military Region 1, and other relief teams. Ms. La Thi Bon (Ca Ngo village, Bo Ha commune) said that nearly 200 households in the village were isolated. Just when the people were running out of clean water, food, and medicine, relief supplies arrived. "We are very grateful to the philanthropists and the government for providing timely assistance to the people during this difficult time," Ms. Bon said.

According to reporters' observations that afternoon, many residential areas in Bo Ha commune remained isolated, especially those along the Thuong River, due to high and fast-flowing floodwaters. Along with local authorities, many charitable groups participated in rescue efforts and assisted in transporting essential supplies to the isolated residential areas in Bo Ha commune.

Authorities in Bo Ha commune had to mobilize vehicles to clear a path so that trucks carrying relief supplies could reach the flooded area as close as possible. Afterward, canoes would transport the supplies upstream on the Thuong River to the Ca Ngo hamlet, where dozens of households were isolated.

Mr. Cao Van Hiep (from a volunteer group in Hanoi ), who drove the boat carrying relief supplies, said that the river water was high and flowing rapidly, making it very difficult and dangerous to move upstream. However, many people were isolated and lacked food and water, so the volunteer group had carefully prepared the necessary vehicles and equipment to ensure the safety of the team as they traveled to these areas.

According to information from the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, water levels on the Thuong and Cau rivers are receding slowly. Key dikes threatened by floodwaters in recent days are under control and safe. Forces are continuing to reinforce areas already constructed, while also organizing the transportation of essential supplies to people in isolated areas; cleaning up areas where water has receded; and remaining on standby in key locations to provide timely assistance.

In order to promptly support flood-affected people in stabilizing their lives, the Bac Ninh Provincial Relief Campaign Committee has allocated the first phase of 20 billion VND for emergency assistance to people in 17 communes and wards, such as Yen The, Bo Ha, Tien Luc, etc., to purchase food, medicine, drinking water, and other essential necessities.

Dozens of tons of goods were transported from Can Tho to be delivered to people in Ha Tinh. Photo: CA LINH

Sharing and mitigating the damage.

In response to the severe damage caused by Typhoon No. 10 (Bualoi) to people in the Northern and North Central regions of Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee has issued a call to the people, agencies, organizations, and businesses in the area to share and provide spiritual and material support to help people overcome the damage caused by Typhoon No. 10.

At the same time, officials, civil servants, public employees, soldiers of the armed forces, and those receiving salaries from the state budget are encouraged to contribute at least one day's salary each, until November 30th. Ho Chi Minh City has also established collection points in 168 communes, wards, and special zones to make it more convenient for people, agencies, organizations, individuals, and the business community to conduct transactions and participate in contributions.

The Ho Chi Minh City Relief Campaign Committee organized a delegation to directly visit and encourage people in the Northern and North Central provinces, donating 47 billion VND. Notably, Ho Chi Minh City's media outlets demonstrated a proactive spirit. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, a retired official, expressed: "I am retired, receiving a pension of nearly 5 million VND per month. I am contributing one month's pension to support those affected by the floods and storms, hoping they will soon overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives."

On October 10th, trucks carrying goods under the name "Accompanying the people, workers, and youth in storm and flood-affected areas," organized by the Can Tho City Youth Union in coordination with the City's Labor Union, set off. Mr. Tran Viet Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the City Youth Union, said that after a period of fundraising, they have received approximately 20 tons of goods, 4 oxygen ventilators and medical supplies, over 19 tons of essential goods, 7.5 tons of rice, 511 boxes of instant noodles, 338 boxes of milk, medicine, etc.

In addition, the Can Tho City Police Department organized a fundraising campaign and called on all officers and soldiers to donate over 5.7 billion VND to support people affected by Typhoon No. 10. Ms. Ho Thi Cam Dao - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Can Tho City Fatherland Front Committee - said that the unit has allocated funds from its relief fund to provide immediate support to 5 provinces severely affected by Typhoon No. 10, including Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, and Quang Tri, with 500 million VND for each province, totaling 2.5 billion VND.

Over the past few days in Da Nang City, the SOS Volunteer Team and the "Van Tinh 0 Dong" (Zero-Cost Charity Bus) Club have been organizing six collection points for goods to be sent to people affected by the storm and floods. The shipment of goods to the North is expected to begin at noon on October 11th. Mr. Le Tri Thanh, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang City, said that the city had previously allocated 6 billion VND to support the four localities most severely affected by Typhoon No. 10, including Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri.

Ready to serve the community

Earlier that day, two task forces comprising 62 medical staff from Gia Lai province departed for Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang provinces to join hands with local medical forces in providing healthcare to people affected by the storm and floods.

Medical staff were tasked with coordinating with local health departments on environmental sanitation, water source disinfection, disease prevention, medication distribution, and public health education. Prior to this, on the night of October 9-10, medical staff and other forces worked through the night packing essential supplies and medicines for transport to flood-affected areas to support medical efforts.

Specifically, Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company (Bidiphar) sponsored 4,000 family medicine kits (2,000 kits per province). The Gia Lai Provincial Center for Disease Control released 600 kg of chloramine B powder (300 kg per province) for disinfection and environmental treatment.

Bidding farewell to the departing delegations, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, highly appreciated and commended the proactive spirit, responsibility, and willingness to contribute to the community shown by the medical staff.

In recent days, many agencies and units in Dong Nai province have launched fundraising campaigns to support people in the northern provinces and cities in overcoming the consequences of Typhoon No. 10.

The leaders of the Office of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province have launched an appeal, calling on all officials, civil servants, and employees in the office to uphold the spirit of "mutual support" and "helping those in need," joining hands to help people in the storm-affected areas overcome difficulties and quickly stabilize their lives.

The Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai province, the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, and the People's Committees of wards and communes organized fundraising and donations to support people in localities affected by storms and floods. Responding to the call of the Fatherland Front Committee of Da Kia commune, Mr. Tran Thuan's family donated 7 million VND from their savings. He said his family doesn't have much, they just wanted to contribute a little. This is the amount of money his family sets aside each day, 20,000 VND from their meager income, to cover medical expenses.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong, despite being 100 years old, asked her grandchild to drive her from Tam Phuoc ward to the provincial Red Cross headquarters to donate one month's pension (4.65 million VND) to support flood victims. Mrs. Huong hoped to share her support with those affected by the natural disaster through the Red Cross.

As of 4 PM on October 10th, the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee had received over 60 billion VND in donations from agencies, organizations, and individuals to support people in flood-affected areas.

Readers of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper have donated over 1.6 billion VND via Zalopay and MoMo.

As of the afternoon of October 10th, the total amount donated by readers of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper to those affected by Typhoon No. 10 through Zalopay and MoMo wallets exceeded 1.6 billion VND. Of this amount, the program to support those affected by Typhoon No. 10, launched by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper on Zalopay, received contributions from over 15,700 users totaling more than 1.14 billion VND. Simultaneously, over 500 million VND was donated through MoMo from the generous contributions of more than 11,000 users.

From this fundraising effort, the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper has handed over the first installment of 1.2 billion VND through the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee to be promptly delivered to people in the flood-affected areas.

T. Phuong

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tam-long-viet-nam-vuot-bao-lu-196251010223401037.htm