ReliefWeb

GLIDE FF-2008-000211-VNM

Period covered by this Operations Update: 13-18 November 2008

Appeal target (current): CHF 4,779,037 (USD 4.07 million or EUR 3.17 million) in cash, kind, or services to support the Viet Nam Red Cross Society in assisting 293,860 beneficiaries (70,000 households) for 10 months

Appeal coverage: 8.8%; with further contributions in the pipeline. Funds are urgently needed to enable the Viet Nam Red Cross to provide assistance to the affected population.

Appeal history:

- This emergency appeal was initially launched on 12 November 2008 for CHF 4,779,037 (USD 4.07 million or EUR 3.17 million) for 10 months to assist 293,860 beneficiaries.

Summary:

The Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC) has been mobilized in the affected areas and is collecting information from local authorities and their own branch structures. Overall, the situation is being mapped with a clearer picture of the situation forming, as provinces provide updates on their individual situations and activities implemented in the affected communities.

Government statistics indicate that a total cost of USD 28,210,000 (CHF 34 million or EUR 22.3 million) is needed to recover agricultural production for this year's winter crop and the spring crop in 2009. The government is able to cover up to USD 10,820,000 (CHF 13.04 million or EUR 8.6 million) in this recovery effort while the farming community will cover USD 5,950,000 (CHF 7.17 million or EUR 4.7 million). The Vietnamese government is seeking International aid to cover the remaining gap of USD 11,440,000 (CHF 13.8 million or EUR 9.06 million).

To date, American Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, and USAID have pledged to contribute to this appeal, and other contributions are in the pipeline.

The International Federation, on behalf of the Viet Nam Red Cross, would like to thank all partners for their response to this appeal to date.

The situation

Six days of torrential rainfall from 30 October to 4 November have caused severe flooding in several northern and central provinces of Viet Nam. According to the ministry of agriculture and rural development, at least 89 people are dead and 600,000 people have been critically affected by the flooding. Damage to property and land is widespread, covering 180,000 houses, some 210,000 hectares of vegetable fields, 30,000 hectares of rice fields, and 40,000 hectares of aquaculture farms. Furthermore, transport and electricity have been disrupted, while public amenities such as health facilities and schools have also been badly damaged. Total losses are estimated at up to VND 8,000 billion (USD 479 million or EUR 379 million).