WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), on behalf of the American people, will provide an initial $100,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help provide emergency relief supplies to Vietnam -- including water containers and mosquito nets -- to those who have been affected by the severe flooding following Typhoon Lekima.
On Oct. 3, Typhoon Lekima struck Vietnam, causing flooding that affected the central coastal provinces of Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, and Thanh Hoa. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 53 people were killed and 13 remain missing as a result of the typhoon and associated flooding. The typhoon also destroyed nearly 6,000 houses, damaged more than 50,000 others, and caused substantial damage to public buildings and infrastructure, including several dams. In addition, more than 38,000 acres of seasonal crops were destroyed and more than 10,000 acres of rice crops were damaged. Heavy rains continued until Oct. 6, and some of the estimated 400,000 people who had evacuated and then returned were forced to re-evacuate due to rising flood waters. On Oct. 8, the IFRC reported that though flood waters had begun to recede, some communities remained inaccessible. On Oct. 9, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Jonathan M. Aloisi declared a disaster due to the typhoon and associated flooding.
USAID will continue to monitor the situation in close consultation with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, and will provide additional assistance if necessary.
In fiscal year 2007, USAID emergency humanitarian assistance programs responded to more than 70 disasters in 56 countries, providing over $368 million to help those in need. In addition to responding to disasters, USAID works to build local capacity and expertise that prepares for disasters, mitigates the impact of disasters, responds to disasters, and rebuilds after disasters.
For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/ourwork/humanitarianassistance/disasterassistance/.
###
