ADB approves $2.0 million grant to support Vietnam’s disaster response

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung (right in the photo) met and worked with Mr. Shantanu Chakraborty, the Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam. Photo: Linh Linh.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung expressed that in recent times, ADB has supported MARD in several activities and projects, including capacity-building initiatives in agriculture, forestry, livestock, disaster prevention, and irrigation.

He also shared that Typhoon No. 3 (or Typhoon Yagi), which churned into the northern Vietnam in mid-September, was the largest storm in 70 years, with devastating impacts that caused significant damage to Vietnam in general and the agricultural sector in particular.

To date, the agricultural sector has recorded over 60 trillion VND in damages, and the sector’s GDP is estimated to decrease by about 0.33%, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's calculations.

The most severe damage was seen in the crop sector, with over 300,000 hectares of rice, vegetables, and fruit trees destroyed, with many areas completely lost. Additionally, 5,000 aquaculture cages were damaged, approximately 30,000 livestock and 4 million poultry died due to the storm, 167,000 hectares of forest were destroyed, and about 762 dike points needed reinforcement and repair.

“We highly commend the extraordinary efforts of the Government and people of Vietnam in responding to the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi,” said ADB Country Director for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung noted that the Vietnamese Government and related ministries are making every effort to address the aftermath of Typhoon No. 3. However, a significant amount of support is needed, including international assistance, to help Vietnam and its people restore production and stabilize their lives as soon as possible.

Mr. Shantanu Chakraborty informed that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $2 million grant to assist the Government of Viet Nam in providing emergency and humanitarian services to residents affected by the super Typhoon Yagi in the northern region of the country.

“ADB’s grant will augment the wider government response to deliver immediate relief support to meet the humanitarian needs of those affected by the above disaster. ADB looks forward to working with the government on post-disaster recovery in the affected provinces to build back better and improve resilience, which is also very important", said Mr. Chakraborty. 

The grant is funded by the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which was designed to provide support to ADB’s developing members affected by major disasters triggered by natural hazards.

Typhoon Yagi, the strongest typhoon to hit Viet Nam in decades, made landfall on the northern coast of the country on 7 September. As of 24 September, 337 people have been killed or reported missing and another 1,935 people injured, according to the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

The typhoon and subsequent flooding and landslides caused widespread damage in 26 provinces, with an estimated 37 million people living in the affected areas. Initial economic loss across northern part of Vietnam is estimated at around $2.6 billion.

ADB has been working with other development partners to support the government’s efforts in responding to the disaster, including assessing the needs for assistance in the northern provinces. ADB’s emergency assistance aims to help ensure that people living in the disaster areas have access to basic medical and social services and resources to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

In line with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Disaster Response Plan, ADB will work closely with the government and coordinate with other development partners to deliver the humanitarian assistance for affected people in the most severely affected provinces in the northern region of Vietnam.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Regarding cooperation, Mr. Chakraborty emphasized that MARD is an important partner for ADB, with many collaborative projects being implemented.

One such project, the Climate Resilient Inclusive Infrastructure for Ethnic Minorities (CRIEM II), led by MARD, is progressing towards approval. The ADB Country Director expressed hope that both sides could reach a loan agreement by the end of this year.

On behalf of MARD, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung expressed his gratitude to ADB for the $2 million grant aimed at helping those affected by the disaster. He hopes that ADB will expedite the approval process for this aid so it can be quickly deployed to the people.

The Deputy Minister also requested ADB's swift approval and continued support for new projects. MARD commits to following ADB's regulations and using these resources effectively to support the people and Vietnam's agriculture.