The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.
In Brief
This Bulletin is being issued for information only, and reflects the situation and the information available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation
Less than two months since the devastating mid-August flooding in the central provinces of Viet Nam, Typhoon Lekima has badly affected the same area, this time in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue, and Quang Ngai. The typhoon, accompanied by strong winds of about 130km/hour and heavy rainfall has particularly affected the provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh on 3 and 4 October 2007. Six provinces were already under water as a result of incessant rainfall over three days before the typhoon struck.
To date, three deaths and one missing person were reported by the local authorities. The local media also reported that the typhoon had destroyed rice and vegetable fields, and some 80 per cent of houses, schools and office buildings in Ky Anh district (Ha Tinh province) and Quang Trach district (Quang Binh province) have sustained various levels of damage. Electricity and communication facilities have been disrupted as have transportation both by land and air. The national carrier, Viet Nam Airlines was forced to cancel flights from and to the three airports in the central part of the country, stranding thousands of passengers.
The Provincial Committee for Flood and Storm Control (PCFSC) evacuated a total of 293,660 people including Red Cross volunteers from the affected areas to shelters in schools and office buildings before the typhoon. Search and rescue operations conducted by the Vietnamese army and police force are ongoing.
In some provinces, particularly Ha Tinh, rivers/dams are still above the danger level and many river embankments in different parts of the province have been seriously damaged.
According to reports from the local authorities, some provinces have made preliminary damage estimations. For instance, total losses in Nghe An are estimated at VND 72 billion (CHF 5.3 million or USD 4.5 million.)
Though estimation on damages is not yet available, affected areas, particularly Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, may also suffer food shortage due to the two serious floods that happened within two months of each other.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Viet Nam Red Cross: Mr. Doan Van Thai (vice-president cum secretary- general), mobile: +84 913 216 549, email: dvanthai@hn.vnn.vn; and Dr. Trinh Bang Hop (director of international relations and development department), email: vnrchq@netnam.org.vn, phone: +84.4.822.4320; Phung Van Hoan, disaster management manager, email: vnrcdp@fpt.vn; phone +84.904.117.981;
Federation country delegation in Viet Nam: Irja Sandberg (Federation representative), email: irja.sandberg@ifrc.org, phone: +84.4.942.2980 (ext. 216), fax: +84.4.942.2987; or Dang Van Tao, disaster management manager, email: tao.vandang@ifrc.org, phone +84.913.361.581;
Federation Southeast Asia regional delegation in Thailand: Alan Bradbury (head of regional delegation); email: alan.bradbury@ifrc.org; phone: +66.2.661.8201; fax: +66.2.661.9322; or Michael Annear, head of regional disaster management unit, email: michael.annear@ifrc.org; phone +66.817.539.598;
Federation Secretariat in Geneva (Asia Pacific department): Sabine Feuglet (senior assistant); email: sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org; phone: +41.22.730.4349; fax: +41.22.733.0395;
Asia Pacific Zone in Kuala Lumpur: Amy Gaver, email: amy.gaver@ifrc.org; phone: + 60.3.2161.0892, fax: +60.3.2161.1210, mobile: +60.12.220.1174