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This update is issued on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period up to 22 October 2020. The next update will be issued once new information becomes available..



Highlights

  • From 6 October, the Central region of Viet Nam has experienced prolonged, heavy rains (see page 5) that have caused severe and widespread flooding and landslides. Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue Provinces have been heavily impacted by significant flooding, while Nghe An, Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai Provinces have also been affected.

  • As of 22 October, VNDMA has recorded 114 deaths, with 21 people still missing. 178,000 houses have been flooded and more than 889,000 people are directly affected. In addition, more than 113,000 ha of agricultural land have been negatively impacted, and 7 million people have fallen into difficult conditions.

  • In response, the Government released a call for emergency relief and support on 13 October 2020 and convened the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership on 19 October 2020 to mobilize and coordinate international support.
  • Three Joint Assessment Teams deployed on 20 October to the five most affected provinces to conduct rapid damage and needs assessment. Immediate needs have been identified in food, water, hygiene and sanitation, livelihoods support, rehabilitation of homes, household items, rehabilitation of damaged schools and health centers, and disease prevention.

  • Storm No. 8 (also called Severe Tropical Storm SAUDEL) is expected to make landfall in Central Viet Nam on 25 October 2020, bringing more heavy rain and high winds to many of the same provinces impacted by the previous storms.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Since 6 October 2020, the Central region of Viet Nam has been experiencing prolonged heavy rainfall as a result of a combination of numerous weather systems; Tropical Storm LINFA struck on 11 October, Tropical Storm NANGKA on 14 October, tropical depression INVEST 94W on 16 October. The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone combined with cold air.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) of Viet Nam, another weather system, Storm No. 8 (or Severe Tropical Storm SAUDEL), is anticipated to make landfall in Central Viet Nam on 25 October 2020 with wind speeds of up to 115km/hr.

AAs a result of these consecutive storms, widespread flooding and landslides have been reported in eight provinces; Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. The Hieu river (Quang Tri), Bo river (Hue), Gianh river and Kien Giang river (Quang Binh) have reached historically high levels and in some locations, flood waters have exceeded the previous historical highs recorded in 1979 and 1999. VNDMA has reported that many areas in Central Viet Nam recorded accumulated rainfall of more than 1,600mm between 5 and 20 October 2020, with peaks of 2400mm in some locations over the same period.

In the affected provinces, a total of 212 communes with more than 178,000 households, or 889,000 people, have been affected by flood waters of up to 4 meters high1, although this number is expected to rise above one million as further information on impact becomes available. In addition, more than 360 schools have been flooded and damaged, and VNDMA reports that there has been damage to public transportation infrastructure, including 165km of national highway and 140km of local roads which have been eroded and damaged, further hampering access. Rescue teams are accessing affected areas by boat to supply relief items and to evacuate vulnerable people, prioritizing children, the disabled and the elderly. VNDMA reports at least 122,600 people have been evacuated to schools, people’s committee compounds and other facilities. In addition, 112,791ha of agricultural land (including rice, other crops and aquatic products) have been reported damaged2, and 691,101 cattle and poultry have been killed.

Viet Nam’s Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CCNDPC) is regularly conducting coordination meetings and has sent missions to the affected provinces (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Ngai) to provide guidance as well as conduct rapid damage and needs assessments. Representatives from 16 international organizations and VNDMA, through their participation in three Joint Assessment Teams, were deployed to five of the most-affected provinces (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai) to conduct a joint rapid assessment between 20 to 23 October. Initial findings highlight the following needs: WASH (access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene), food (covered by the Government), shelter (house repair kits and household items), education (support to schools currently under water and mud), cash to restore livelihoods (agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, small businesses), health (assistance to flooded health centers and waterborne disease prevention) and the need to ensure the response is gender- and disability-attentive and inclusive.

The Government of Viet Nam continues to coordinate with international organizations who have expressed their intent to provide support. It convened a meeting with Disaster Risk Reduction partners on 19 October 2020 to discuss and coordinate international assistance.

The Government has identified the following as priority needs, which have been integrated with the preliminary needs identified by the assessment teams.

Food3
  • 12 tons of dry provisions (2 each to Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai)
  • Other: salt, oil, fish sauce, sugar, milk and dairy products, meat floss, dry fish
Agriculture and Livelihoods
  • Restoration of agricultural land, acquaculture, seeds, fertilizers, livestock and poultry
WASH and Health
  • Water: access to fresh water (bottled water, water filters, pumps) and water treatment (Chloramine B, PAC, soap, detergent)
  • Household sanitation
  • Medicines, disinfectants
  • Waterborne disease prevention
  • Restoration of damaged equipment in community health centers
Education
  • Restoration of lost or damaged equipment in affected schools
Shelter
  • House roofing sheets, tents, house repair kits
  • Restoration of lost or damaged household items
  • Rehabilitation and cleanup of flooded houses
Utility
  • Sanitary pads for women, diapers for children
  • Clothes, blankets, raincoats, rubber boots, kitchen kits
Search and rescue equipment
  • Life vests, lifebuoys, flashlights, battery radios
  • Electric generators (30KVA, 60KVA, 200KVA)
  • Rescue boats (25CV)
Cash relief
  • VND 1,003,314,800,000 (USD 43,509,000)

FUNDING

  • UNDP has mobilized USD 100,000 for assessment and coordination.
  • UNICEF has mobilized USD 100,000 to support WASH needs.
  • WHO has mobilized USD 10,000 to support the MOH health assessment.
  • The IFRC has released USD 325,000 to support the VNRC.
  • The Singapore Red Cross has provided USD 25,000 to support the VNRC.
  • JICA is supporting VNDMA with plastic sheets and water filters.
  • USAID is providing financial support of USD 100,000 to the VNRC.
  • Save the Children has mobilized USD 100,000.
  • Plan International has allocated USD 119,000 for emergency relief efforts.
  • The AHA Centre is mobilizing the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) regional stockpile in Subang, Malaysia.

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS & RESPONSE

Education

Needs:

  • To date, 27 schools have reportedly been damaged and a further 335 are floodedTo date, 27 schools have reportedly been damaged and a further 335 are flooded.
  • Preliminary assessments indicate that flooded and damaged schools are not functioning

Food Security

Needs:

  • 112,791 hectares of agricultural land in the central provinces are reportedly flooded, buried, or damaged.
  • The floods have killed around 691,101 livestock and poultry. The damage could increase substantially once a full damage assessment has been conducted. The Government is taking action to protect people, their livelihoods and livestock from further storms and floods.
  • Though data on damage to harvested products and food stock has not been fully collected, significant damage is likely given the high and widespread floods in the affected provinces, and the threat of food insecurity is high.
  • COVID-19 had already significantly impacted the income and food security of vulnerable households, especially the current flood-affected provinces which have just undergone strict physical distancing due to the recent wave of the virus in July and August. This has significantly reduced their capacity to cope with the floods.
  • 6 transport ships and 4 fishing boats have been damaged..

Response:

  • The government is covering emergency food needs.

Health & Nutrition

 Needs:

  • A number of healthcare facilities (HCFs) have reportedly been damaged or inundated, including at least 42 commune health stations (CHSs) (Quang Tri: 32; Quang Ngai: 5; Quang Nam: 4; and one regional clinic). Many other CHSs , and several district hospitals in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, are isolated and inaccessible due to flooding.

Response:

  • Local health authorities, in close collaboration with other sectors, are actively responding to the floods.
  • MOH has deployed a team led by MOH leaders to visit affected provinces to assess the damage to the health sector and to support local health authorities in responding to the situation. 
  • MOH has provided emergency support of 4.2 million Aquatabs to the 6 most heavily affected provinces

Protection & Gender

Needs:

  • The most vulnerable women are at increased risk of food insecurity and related illnesses, while a lack of access to healthcare and other stresses is likely to raise the risk of miscarriage for pregnant women.
  • Thousands of people have had to evacuate to locations that may not have sleeping areas separated by gender, which can increase the risk of violence, sexual harassment, and abuse to women and girls.

Shelter and non-food items

Needs:

  • VNDMA reports 24,734 houses have collapsed or have been damaged, and 177,921 are flooded.
  • VNRC reports that 91,000 household kits are needed in addition to 400 household repair kits and 20,000 family hygiene kits

Response:

  • On October 21, the AHA Center delivered more than 30 tons of goods, including 1,000 home repair kits and 1,300 kitchen sets, to Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces.
  • The Viet Nam Red Cross Society has provided at least 1,200 household kits (blankets, mosquito nets and cooking utensils), 30 boxes of water purification tablets (Aquatabs) and 500 boxes of P&G sachets. VNRC has moved additional prepositioned stocks (household kits, WPT and shelter tool kits) in anticipation of forecasted rainfall and hydropower releases.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Needs:

  • All impacted provinces report a lack of drinking water for affected populations, especially in communities which are still inundated by flood waters.
  • The floods are disrupting water supplies, worsening access to water quality especially for those using water sources other than tap water.
  • Flood-damaged latrines, exposed excreta and dead animals combined with a lack of clean water, clothing and personal hygiene items are creating severe risk of disease outbreak, to which women and girls are especially vulnerable.
  • Community and household sanitation are both at high risk

Response:

  • WHO has provided 320,000 water purification tablets (67mg)-Oassi (Aquatabs) to the 6 most heavily affected provinces

GENERAL COORDINATION

The Government of Viet Nam, through the Central Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CCNDPC) and the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), serving as the CCNDPC Secretariat, is coordinating the response in the affected provinces and at the national level. The UN, both at country and regional level, as well as INGOs and the Viet Nam Red Cross , are closely monitoring the situation and providing support as required. Three Joint Assessment Teams have been deployed to the five most affected provinces for 20-23 October to conduct a rapid needs assessment. The preliminary results of this assessment will be available starting from Monday, October 26th.

 

 

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1 Copernicus EMSR469 and UNOSAT web live map.
2 924 ha of rice, 430 ha of rice seedlings, 106,616 ha of crops, 470 ha of forest trees, 462 ha of fruit trees, and 3,889 ha of aquatic products had been reported flooded, buried, or damaged as of 17 October 2020.
3 The Government of Viet Nam has committed to cover food needs.

For further information, please contact:

Shin Umezu (Mr.), Head of RCO, Email: shin.umezu@one.un.org 
Alberto Solaro del Borgo (Mr.), RCO Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Email: alberto.solaro.del.borgo@one.un.org

 

Office of the UN Resident Coordinator