Working all night to deliver relief goods to flood victims in Central Vietnam

These days, the headquarters of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City (55 Mac Dinh Chi, Tan Dinh Ward) and the Student Cultural House (Ho Chi Minh City National University Urban Area) are always bustling with support forces receiving relief goods.

From early morning to midnight, people continued to bring boxes of noodles, bags of rice, sets of clothes, etc. to the reception area to support people in flooded areas.

Hundreds of people passed packages from hand to hand, loaded them onto trucks to send to people in Central Vietnam.

PHOTO: HOAI NHIEN

On the evening of November 24, hundreds of people from the armed forces, militia, youth union members, students... were still diligently arranging, classifying, and passing each package to each other, loading it onto trucks to send to the people in the Central region who are struggling with the flood.

After finishing work, Ms. Huynh Phuong (26 years old, living in Tan Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City) hurried to the headquarters of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to help arrange goods. Her hands quickly transferred the goods onto the truck.

Volunteers classify each type of goods to send to people in flood-affected areas.

PHOTO: HOAI NHIEN

Talking about the people in the flood-affected areas, Ms. Phuong's voice choked up: "Seeing the news that people in the Central region are struggling in the fierce flood, I feel so sorry for them. They have saved their whole lives to build a roof over their heads, but after just one storm, everything was swept away. The most painful thing is that some people cannot return to their families. I just want to contribute a little to support people in this dire situation."

While meticulously sorting each box of goods, Le Thanh Thao (18 years old, student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry) said that in recent days, Thao has always been present at the reception area from morning to late at night to help arrange and sort the goods.

Each item is carefully arranged and packed by volunteers.

PHOTO: HOAI NHIEN - THUY LIEU

“When everyone stood close together, passing each bag of goods onto the truck, then the door closed and the truck started heading towards the Central region, that moment everyone burst into tears,” Thao said, choking up.

As a person born and raised in Quang Ngai - a land often heavily affected by natural disasters, Thao understands the suffering that people in flood-affected areas are enduring.

“When I came here, I clearly felt the solidarity of everyone. Everyone devoted their efforts and wholeheartedly to the people in the flood-affected areas. I just hope to contribute a small part so that people can soon overcome these difficult days,” Thao expressed.

Volunteers passed packages from hand to hand to deliver them to people in flooded areas.

PHOTO: THUY LIEU

In another corner, Ms. Ho Thi Kim Ngan (42 years old, an official of the Women's Union of Hiep Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) is meticulously arranging each set of clothes. She clearly classifies: men's clothes, women's clothes, children's clothes... each bag is carefully noted before being tied up, ready to be shipped.

"I came at 3pm and worked until night without feeling tired. I have never witnessed such terrible devastation from a storm or flood. I just hope that my people will soon overcome this disaster," said Ms. Ngan.

As of the end of November 23, the Ho Chi Minh City Relief Committee had received 32,418 donations totaling more than VND244 billion.

At the Student Cultural House (Ho Chi Minh City National University Urban Area), hundreds of students diligently arranged, classified, and carried each item to send to people in flood-affected areas.

PHOTO: NGUYEN SU

As of 8 a.m. on November 24, the city continued to receive 29,000 family medicine bags, 70 tons of rice, and 1,376 tons of necessities worth more than VND136.2 billion. Regarding support allocation, a total of VND190.6 billion has been spent so far, and goods worth more than VND136.2 billion have been distributed.

Since November 21, Ho Chi Minh City has established 18 fixed reception points and 14 reception points at metro line 1 stations. On the morning of November 24, the total amount of relief goods received was up to 1,276 tons, including drinking water, milk, rice, instant noodles, cakes, canned food, life jackets, blankets and personal care items.

After school hours, university students gather at the Student Cultural House (Ho Chi Minh City National University Urban Area) to help classify and transport goods.

PHOTO: NGUYEN SU

All were promptly transported to localities, of which Khanh Hoa received 691 tons, Dak Lak 220 tons, Lam Dong 265 tons and Gia Lai 100 tons. Along with that, 168 Fatherland Front headquarters in communes, wards and special zones also proactively opened reception points, mobilized and delivered relief goods directly to flood areas as quickly as possible.

When it rained, the students immediately covered the goods with tarpaulins to avoid damage.

PHOTO: NGUYEN SU

In addition to the professional force, volunteer teams from Ho Chi Minh City were also sent to the flood area, including 150 youth volunteers, 200 members of the City Youth Union and 300 environmental sanitation volunteers, creating a widespread and effective support network.

Ho Chi Minh City stops receiving relief goods, encourages people to donate via bank accounts