Vietnam, ADB sign agreement for $2.5 mln natural disaster relief aid

The agreement, signed between Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong and ADB Country Director Andrew Jefferies, provides for the ADB Asia Pacific Disaster Respond Fund allocation to assist central Vietnamese in recovering from recent heavy rains and flooding, according to an ADB press release.

The agriculture ministry and ADB are considering an additional emergency grant in March next year to repair infrastructure damaged by natural disasters and so assist socio-economic recovery in heavily-affected central Vietnam regions.

If approved, the emergency infrastructure repair grant would be used along with the national budget to help affected areas.

Since last month, central Vietnam has been wrecked by heavy rains, floods, and landslides due to numerous storms and tropical depressions. At least 235 people either died or went missing amid flooding and landslides in October, with economic damage estimated at around VND17 trillion ($734.67 million), according to the government.

Several countries and international organizations have pledged relief aid to assist central Vietnam's disaster victims.