Netherlands to give $2.35 mln for central Vietnam disaster relief

By Nguyen Quy November 4, 2020 | 11:30 pm PT

A man uses a makeshift raft made of tires and buckets to transport his wife and certain necessities to safety in Quang Tri Province, October 20, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

The Netherlands has pledged EUR2 million ($2.35 million) for providing immediate relief to people affected by last month’s multiple storms and floods in central Vietnam.

The donation would be handed over to the Dutch Relief Alliance, a coalition of 15 NGOs, who would disburse it through their local offices and partners, the Dutch ambassador to Vietnam, Elsbeth Akkerman, said in a press release on Wednesday.

The disaster relief fund addresses the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities in affected areas and focuses on the supply of water, sanitation, hygiene, food, cooking stoves and cash to help families in the central region to overcome the consequences of the disaster and soon restart their lives.

In October there were four storms, floods and a series of deadly landslides that left at least 235 people dead or missing, and caused economic losses estimated at around VND17 trillion ($734.67 million).

Last month the government had provided the worst-hit central provinces with VND1 trillion, 11,500 tons of rice and other essential items.

The U.K. announced aid of £500,000 ($649,100) on Tuesday while Australia earlier provided $71,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance.

The U.S. announced a donation of $2.1 million.