Yen Bai: Poor people have new houses before storm season

Leaders of central and local units and UNDP handed over the new house to Ms. Bui Thi Tap.

Today, in Yen Ninh ward, Yen Bai city, a meaningful event took place when Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, together with Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, together with leaders of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Vice Chairwoman of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee Vu Thi Hien Hanh attended the handover ceremony of a new house to Ms. Bui Thi Tap - an elderly person in difficult circumstances. Ms. Tap's house, which was completely collapsed due to landslides after super typhoon Yagi in 2024, has now been solidly rebuilt thanks to timely support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP, and international partners, bringing hope to her family ahead of this year's storm season.

Ms. Xi’s house, which was completely collapsed due to landslides after Super Typhoon Yagi in 2024, has now been solidly rebuilt thanks to timely support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP, and international partners, bringing hope to her family ahead of this year’s typhoon season.

Ms. Tap’s case is one of thousands of stories of life restoration in the northern mountainous provinces after Super Typhoon Yagi – the third storm that caused severe damage to 26 northern provinces in September 2024. With 345 people dead and missing, 283,000 houses damaged, and total economic losses of up to 81,801 billion VND, this disaster left severe consequences, especially for poor households like Ms. Tap’s family. Immediately after the storm, the international community pledged more than 22 million USD in support, of which the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment received more than 220 tons of relief goods worth 2.3 million USD from countries and international organizations, demonstrating strong solidarity.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has played a key role in coordinating with UNDP and partners to implement emergency aid packages from CERF, UNHCR, and the Government of the Republic of Korea. The program has supported nearly 17,000 people with cash and essential supplies, repaired and rebuilt 400 houses, built 10 public works such as village roads, bridges, and schools, and enhanced the livelihoods of 15 small and medium-sized cooperatives in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, and Thai Nguyen provinces. These projects, worth a total of more than US$4.49 million, focus on three main areas: emergency assistance, housing reconstruction, and livelihood restoration, helping people quickly stabilize their lives.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep affirmed: "The Vietnamese Government always puts people at the center of all disaster response policies. Post-storm reconstruction does not stop at building houses but also aims to ensure long-term living conditions and develop sustainable livelihoods for people. The Ministry is committed to continuing to coordinate closely with international organizations to provide the most practical and effective support." This statement emphasizes the Ministry's strong commitment to turning support into concrete actions, especially for heavily affected areas such as Yen Bai.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Representative in Viet Nam, expressed her gratitude for the timely leadership of Vice Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep and members of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) in assessing life-saving needs, coordinating, and planning responses. “Rebuilding after a disaster is not just about rebuilding a house, but also about restoring confidence and ensuring safety for people. UNDP is committed to continuing to work with the Government and people of Viet Nam to find comprehensive solutions, improve early warning capabilities, and build greater resilience to future disasters,” she emphasized.

The support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment goes beyond providing housing, and opens up opportunities for the people of Yen Bai to rebuild their lives. The new, solid houses, built to disaster-resistant standards, are a testament to the joint efforts of the government and international organizations. In Yen Bai, which suffered more than 1,000 small landslides and dozens of large ones after Typhoon Yagi, thousands of households can now rest assured ahead of the upcoming storm season.

In addition to housing reconstruction, the Ministry also coordinated with localities to implement livelihood support programs, helping people restore agricultural production - a sector that was severely affected with hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops flooded. Cooperatives were supported with capital and techniques to develop sustainable farming models, minimizing risks from natural disasters in the future. This not only helped people overcome immediate difficulties but also created a foundation for long-term development, reducing dependence on aid.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/yen-bai-nguoi-dan-ngheo-co-nha-moi-truoc-mua-bao-102250508171931905.htm