U.S. Ambassador to Viet Nam Daniel J. Kritenbrink on October 17 announced an initial US$100,000 in disaster relief funds for Viet Nam to address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities in areas most affected by Tropical Storm Linfa.

Many residential areas in central province of Thua Thien-Hue have been submerged
due to heavy rains and floods in the central region

These funds will be provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC).  

 “The U.S. Mission in Viet Nam expresses our deepest condolences to the people of Viet Nam for the loss of life, destruction of property, and displacement of people due to the flooding in central Viet Nam”, said Ambassador Kritenbrink.   

 “We stand together with the Government and the people of Viet Nam as they mourn their loved ones, address the damage caused by this terrible flood, and move forward, as the people of Viet Nam have always done. We pledge to assist you in your work to rebuild”, he added. 

The U.S. Ambassador also expressed his concern for persons with disabilities in the provinces affected by the typhoon as they are amongst the most vulnerable populations in this disaster. 

It is estimated that the provinces impacted by Tropical Storm Linfa are home to over 200,000 persons with disabilities, of whom 61,000 persons with disabilities are directly affected by this disaster.

Since 2000, USAID, through the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, has provided more than US$26 million in disaster response, preparedness, and risk reduction assistance in Viet Nam. 

Through the Department of Defense, the U.S. Government has also provided more than US$28 million 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. 

USAID continues to support Viet Nam’s disaster relief efforts and plans are underway to provide additional assistance.

Tropical Storm Linfa is the sixth tropical storm to hit Viet Nam in 2020 and made landfall on October 11. 

Subsequently, Tropical Storm Nangka (Tropical Storm No.7) made landfall over northeastern Viet Nam on October 14. 

As of October 15, the flooding had adversely affected over 136,000 households - resulting in at least 40 deaths, injuring 15 people, and leaving 29 people missing, according to the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority and American Red Cross. 

In addition, 150,000 people have been evacuated and significant impacts on transportation networks and agricultural livelihoods have been reported. 

USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance partner VNRC is on the frontlines of the response and has mobilized rapid disaster response teams established and trained through ongoing USAID disaster risk reduction programs to support evacuation, search and rescue, and emergency response operations.