OVER 1.

5 MILLION CHILDREN AT RISK DUE

TO FLOODS IN CENTRAL VIET NAM

The children agency is allocating

an immediate $100,000 for
emergency relief to the most
affected people.

Widespread flooding and

landslides in 5 provinces in
central Viet Nam have left more than 1.5 million children at risk of disease, poor
nutrition and delayed development. At least 135,000 families have been
directly impacted by flood water levels as high as 2 meters in certain communes,
and over half a million people unable to access protected water sources.

Family homes are devastated, crops and livelihoods are destroyed, and
infrastructure is damaged. To date, 42 commune health stations are reported
damaged and many more are isolated and inaccessible due to the flood waters,
leaving mothers and children separated from the basic and preventative health
care so important in such times of heightened disease risk. In many locations,
schools have been damaged and remain closed temporarily. As a result, nearly
1.2 million students are currently out of school and learning is disrupted. The
window to provide relief is narrow as a new cyclone nears the same coastal
region and could make landfall in the next days.

UNICEF experts have joined a team led by the Authority, and they have reached
the most affected provinces assessing the situation of children and women to
know the full extent of the needs. UNICEF will raise and allocate further
funds and expertise to support the Government to address the challenges.
“The flood and landslides have caused severe damage in the communes visited.
Schools have been damaged, and books and other learning material are
destroyed by water. The population can’t access running water, toilets are under
water, and the lack of personal hygiene and sanitation is increasing the risk and
we are already seeing diseases such as diarrhea and gynecological
diseases,” said Ly Phat Viet Linh, UNICEF Emergency Specialist traveling to
Quang Binh, one of the most affected provinces so far.

“UNICEF has allocated an initial $100,000 for emergency relief in water,

sanitation, hygiene, health, nutrition, and education, as well as psychosocial
support and child protection,“ said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in
Viet Nam. “While we urgently address health risks, we must also get children
back to learning. Given the circumstances many may need to return to online
learning – so assessing access and connectivity is an important action for the
education team. At the same time, we need to pay careful attention to the
children’s mental wellbeing – acutely aware of how such disasters impact
children - not just their physical health and nutrition, but women and children
often face increased protection risks and they always experience stress and
anxiety that we must address as quickly as possible”, Flowers added.

With the prediction of further rain, UNICEF is monitoring carefully the health
risks, including identifying solutions to address the challenges now faced - such
as disease spread, lack of nutritious foods for women and children, health checks
and care for pregnant women or maintaining routine immunization services.

“As the reports come in from UNICEF staff in the affected provinces – the
damage is heartbreaking and the risks to children mounting. These populations
were already suffering from the impact of COVID, and their capacity to bounce
back is tested. UNICEF extends its sincere condolences to those affected and we
call on our family of supporters all over the world to support the recovery
efforts”, concluded Rana Flowers.

Media Contacts

Mr Louis Vigneault-Dubois

Chief of Communication and Advocacy

UNICEF Viet Nam

Tel: +84 (024) 3850 0100

Tel: +84 (0)96 6539 673

Email: lvigneault@unicef.org

Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong

Advocacy and Communications Specialist

UNICEF Viet Nam

Tel: +84 (024) 38500225

Tel: +84 (0)904154678