Australia to provide Vietnam $71,300 for flood relief

The aid was announced Friday by the Australian ambassador to Vietnam, Robyn Mudie.

The central region has been hit by consecutive tropical storms, prolonged heavy rainfall, severe and widespread flooding, and landslides over the last two weeks, said to be the worst in decades, killing at least 117 and leaving 21 missing.

The dead include 35 members of two different military teams who had come to rescue landslide victims in Thua Thien-Hue and assist neighborhoods hit by landslides in Quang Tri Province.

As of Thursday more than 178,000 households in the region had been affected by floodwaters of up to two meters, 362 schools had been damaged and there has been widespread destruction of agricultural land and resources.

Mudie said: "When Australia experienced devastating bushfires last summer, we felt the outpouring of support from the government and people of Vietnam. Today we stand in solidarity with Vietnam, as you grieve for lost loved ones and heroic first responders. We will continue monitoring relief requirements as the extent of the impact comes to light."

Australia is already making ongoing efforts to support Vietnam’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, including a $10.5 million assistance package in June.

Earlier this week the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management, the United Nations Development Program and Save the Children Vietnam pledged donations in cash and kind to help central Vietnam.

South Korea on Friday pledged relief worth $300,000 while the U.S. has promised $100,000.