Financial aid earmarked for addressing northern flood impacts

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to earmark 220 billion VND (9.87 million USD) from the State budget reserves to address recent flood consequences in nine northern localities.

Quang Ninh province will receive 100 billion VND (4.48 million USD) while Dien Bien and Ha Giang provinces will each get financial aid of 20 billion VND (896,000 USD). Lang Son, Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa provinces and Hai Phong city will be provided with 15 billion VND (672,000 USD) each and ten billion VND (448,000 USD) will be allocated to Lai Chau and Son La province.

All beneficiaries are located in the north except for Thanh Hoa, which is situated in the north central coast.

The provincial and municipal People’s Committees have been tasked with using the allocated money, local budget reserves and other resources to settle the natural disaster consequences. They have also been requested to use the local budget to provide seedling and livestock assistance to affected households.

Meanwhile, the Ministries of Labour, Invalids & Social Affairs; Agriculture & Rural Development; and Transport are also in charge of offering help to the impacted families by providing financial support, food and antiseptics.

From July 24 to August 6, a low pressure trough crossing the north triggered torrential rains across the region. Flooding caused by historic downpours in Quang Ninh killed 42 people, swept away 340 houses, inundated 1,688 others and damaged 16,992 hectares of rice and 6,551 hectares of other crops. Total material loss is estimated at over 4.61 billion VND (over 206.5 million USD).-VNA