Solidarity between the army and people amid difficulties in the flood-hit border area of Son La

Officers and soldiers of Border Guard Stations help people plant rice after the flood has passed.

These days, not only are there the calloused hands of people in flood-hit areas rushing to overcome the consequences of the rain and flood, but there are also the quiet, sharing footsteps of officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Command and other forces. Beautiful images and stories about the strength of solidarity to overcome natural disasters continue to be written…

In the border areas under the management of the Son La Provincial Border Guard, the floods caused landslides at 5 points on national highways and inter-commune roads in the border communes of Sop Cop, Muong Hung, Chieng Khoong, and Long Phieng of Son La province, causing traffic jams for many hours.

Border Guard forces and local people cleared fallen trees causing traffic jams on border routes.

After the flood, in the border area of Son La, 8 suspension bridges over streams were washed away by floodwaters. Many civil works in the border area were affected, and the electricity and communication systems were seriously disrupted.

Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Thinh, Deputy Political Commissar of Nam Lanh Border Post, Son La Provincial Border Guard, said: "Currently, the unit is mobilizing maximum forces to go to landslide sites to work with local people and functional forces to clean up so that people can travel and return to normal activities."

Immediately after the storm passed, officers and soldiers of the Son La Border Guard were present to help households overcome the consequences of the flood.

On the night of July 26, due to sudden floods, the water level of rivers and streams rose, causing flooding of many areas of trees, rice, crops, aquaculture ponds and many other properties of 47 households in the border communes of Song Ma, Muong Leo, Muong Lan, and Long Sap.

In the area adjacent to the border communes, 13 houses suffered landslides, tilted houses, and many cracks appeared in the communes of Chieng So, Muong Lam, Nam Man, Na Nghiu, Dua Mon, Yen Hung, and Huoi Mot (belonging to the old Song Ma district).

In Chieng So commune, Muong Lam, heavy rain and floodwaters killed 5 people, left 1 person missing and damaged many houses, crops, constructions... Preliminary damage caused by the storm is estimated at about 4 billion 200 million VND.

Muong Cai Border Guard Station sent officers and soldiers to join the search for missing victims in the recent flood.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Commander of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, said: “We identify the task of helping people prevent and combat natural disasters, and rescue as a peacetime combat mission of the Border Guard. The Party Committee of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command has directed border posts to proactively develop response plans, ensuring absolute safety for the lives and property of officers, soldiers and units.”

“The Border Guard stations have dispatched nearly 400 officers and soldiers, and 23 vehicles to help people overcome the consequences and search for the four missing victims. They have mobilized and supported the evacuation of 14 households to safe shelters and mobilized social resources to support essential goods for affected households,” Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Commander of the Border Guard Command of Son La province, added.

Nam Lanh Border Guard Station coordinated with Mobile Police and local people to overcome the consequences of storms and floods.

Immediately after receiving information at the landslide sites, the Command Boards of the Border Guard Stations of Chieng Tuong (Long Phieng Commune), Muong Cai (Chieng Khong Commune), Nam Lanh (Sop Cop Commune), each unit sent officers and soldiers to coordinate with local authorities to urgently go to the landslide sites to fix the problem.

Immediately upon receiving instructions from the unit, the units were present at the flood-affected areas to promptly clear, clear, and remove mud, soil, drifting rocks, and fallen trees blocking the road, promptly ensuring smooth travel for people and vehicles.

Help people reinforce fish ponds to avoid damage to people's property.

Major Ngo Anh Dung, Muong Cai Border Guard Station, in charge of the task force searching for the missing, said: “As soon as we received the instructions, we were present at the flash flood area to join forces in searching for the missing. At around 12:30 today, the unit and Reconnaissance Company 20 of the Provincial Military Command and local people found a victim who was confirmed to be Mr. LVN, born in 1961, Na Can 2 Village, Chieng So Commune.”

At some Border Guard Stations, units have also proactively sent officers and soldiers to the grassroots to help people harvest rice and crops to minimize damage with the motto "The army comes to the people to help, not let the people in difficulty come to the army".

Officers and soldiers of Muong Cai Border Guard Station help households harvest rice to avoid flooding.

Mr. Lo Van Cong, Na Can 2 village, Chieng So commune, said: "In addition to supporting families to find missing people due to floods, the Son La Border Guard force also propagates for us to grasp information about weather forecasts, be vigilant and take precautions against any unpredictable complex developments that may occur. Especially, propagate to people to pay attention to key areas that can cause flash floods, flash floods or places with high risk of landslides...".

Along with support activities to help people in flood-affected areas overcome the consequences of floods, the Border Guard Command of Son La province also directed and required grassroots units to strictly comply with ensuring the number of standing troops, closely following the instructions of superiors, ensuring supplies and equipment, proactively ready to coordinate with functional forces to respond to all situations to avoid being passive and surprised, such as search and rescue, helping people protect their property to minimize damage.

Officers and soldiers of Border Guard Stations participate in cleaning up mud and soil that has eroded into people's houses.

Although the rain has temporarily stopped and the flood waters have receded, the journey to rebuild life after the flood is still full of hardships. In every house, every village in the border area of Son La, the footsteps of soldiers in uniform are still persistently imprinted.

Regardless of day or night, officers and soldiers of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command and other forces are still present at the grassroots level, working side by side with the government and local people to clean up mud and soil, rebuild houses, and stabilize life.

The timely presence, sense of responsibility and devotion to the people of the soldiers on the front lines of the Fatherland in flood areas in general, and in flood-affected communes in the border areas in particular, are a solid support, spreading faith and humanity in difficult times.

QUOC TUAN-VI HIEN-QUANG HUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tinh-doan-ket-quan-dan-giua-gian-kho-vung-lu-o-vung-bien-gioi-son-la-post897013.html