US helps Vietnam respond to impacts of storm Damrey, future diasters

 Hanoi (VNA) – US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink announced over 1 million USD in emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction support to Vietnam to respond to the impacts of Typhoon Damrey and future disasters on behalf of the US Government.

Typhoon Damrey made landfall in Vietnam on November 4 with winds of up to 135 km/hour, 50 km south of Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), and became one of the worst storms to strike Vietnam’s southern coastal region in years.

Following downpours and floods had claimed 89 lives and left 18 mission and 174 others injured in central and Central Highlands localities as of November 7.

“With a grant of 250,000 USD in disaster relief funds, USAID will provide sanitation, health-related, and commodity relief items to the areas of Vietnam most affected by Typhoon Damrey,” said Ambassador Kritenbrink.

An additional disaster preparedness grant of 800,000 USD awarded last month to the Vietnam National Red Cross will benefit approximately 13,700 people directly and 30,000 people indirectly in three target provinces using a community-based approach to build capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters, he added.

Vietnam remains vulnerable to a host of weather-related risks and climate change impacts. Typhoon Damrey clearly demonstrated the importance of being prepared and able to effectively respond to disasters.

Since 2000, USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance has provided more than 20 million USD to address emergency response needs and disaster risk management activities in Vietnam. Through the Department of Defense, the US Government has also provided more than 28 million USD since 1998 to train military and civilian emergency responders and develop and equip disaster management centers, maritime response centers, and disaster shelters at the community level.-VNA