WHO supports one million water disinfection tablets for flood-hit areas

With strong winds, heavy rains, floods and landslides affecting millions of people in the northern provinces, at least 325 people were killed or missing, with hundreds more injured and thousands of households forced to evacuate. The storm also destroyed 130,000 homes and hundreds of medical facilities.

In many places, the storm disrupted essential water supplies to households and health facilities, as flooding, landslides, strong winds and fallen trees damaged water and power infrastructure, a devastation that could take weeks or even longer to repair and restore.

“We are deeply saddened that the death toll continues to rise and that many people remain at risk as a result of the storm and flooding,” said Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Viet Nam. “As part of WHO’s efforts to support the Government’s response to the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, WHO delivered an emergency shipment of one million water disinfection tablets and 500 water containers to the Ministry of Health yesterday.”

According to Dr. Angela Pratt, these water disinfection tablets and water containers are expected to be transported to the most severely damaged areas today.

This contribution will help provide approximately 15 million liters of clean water, ensuring safe drinking water for many days and weeks to households and use in medical facilities in the eight most severely affected provinces and cities: Bac Giang , Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai.

Clean water is critical to help prevent water- and food-borne diseases, to keep health care facilities operating safely, and to maintain patient care, whether it is people injured in storms or floods, or those needing emergency care every day, said Dr. Pratt.

Transporting water disinfection tablets to the worst-hit areas.

Mr. Duong Duc Thien, Chief of Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of the Ministry of Health, said: “Given the serious damage and devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi, the Ministry of Health has officially requested international assistance. We are very grateful for the support from trusted partners such as WHO to support us in our immediate response and long-term recovery.”

WHO, together with other UN agencies, has participated in joint assessment teams deployed in coordination with the Government to better understand the extent of damage, assess needs and ensure the availability of targeted support.

WHO is also working closely with local and central authorities to monitor and prevent foodborne, waterborne and other infectious diseases in the coming weeks and months, and will continue to support the Government in mobilizing additional resources as needed.

Additionally, with support from USAID, WHO is working with Government partners to broadcast safety messages in multiple ethnic minority languages ​​through local radio and community loudspeakers to help ensure that ethnic minority communities, particularly those in remote areas, receive vital health safety information.

“WHO is working closely with the Government and is committed to continuing to support response and recovery efforts in any way we can,” added Dr Pratt.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/who-ho-tro-mot-trieu-vien-khu-trung-nuoc-cho-vung-bi-bao-lu-post830732.html