Attachments
Description of the crisis
Due to its geographical location and topography, Viet Nam remains highly vulnerable to typhoons, flooding, and landslides. Typhoon Yagi, recorded as the strongest typhoon to strike Viet Nam in the past 30 years, made landfall in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city on 7 September 2024.
The entire northern region, with a population of 19 million, was battered by prolonged torrential rain, which caused major floods, landslides, widespread inundation, and extensive damage to both people and property. In total, 26 provinces were affected nationwide, and the three provinces of Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai declared a state of emergency.
In the weeks and months following the disaster, VNRC continued to track typhoons approaching the country, monitor risks associated with floods and landslides during the monsoon season and remained on standby to respond to any flooding that might worsen the situation in provinces already affected by Typhoon Yagi.
Typhoon Yagi resulted in 350 deaths, 2,000 injuries, and the evacuation of 122,000 households, according to the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority. The damage is estimated at over VND 81,000 billion (approximately CHF 2.78 billion). Key damages reported by relevant government agencies are as follows:
• 284,000 houses damaged or destroyed.
• Damage of approximately 286,660 hectares of rice fields and 63,350 hectares of other crops and vegetables.
• Nearly 44,556 cattle and over 5.75 million poultry have died or were swept away.
• 2,350 schools and 745 healthcare facilities were damaged.
• Transportation, communication, market, and water supply facilities were severely affected by the flooding and landslides due to the typhoon.
• Approximately 570,000 people lacked access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and 220,000 children under the age of five along with 70,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women were at risk of malnutrition after the flood.
Approximately 100,000 children faced heightened protection risks, such as isolation and psychological distress. The emergency phase lasted for approximately three months, from September to November 2024, followed by a gradual transition to the early recovery phase. An initial assessment by the Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) in late September 2024 indicated that previously disrupted access to roads and markets had returned to normal. Northern Viet Nam is a mountainous area, and poor shelter conditions often leave the population more vulnerable to typhoon damage. In the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, access to essential services and markets remained a significant challenge. Additionally, ethnic minority groups in the affected areas were already disproportionately impacted by economic disparities, leading to higher levels of poverty and limited access to education, healthcare, and financial services.