Switzerland seeks to swiftly extend $1.2 million in aid to support Vietnamese people affected by storm

Minister Le Minh Hoan conveyed his gratitude for Switzerland's assistance, particularly the Swiss expert team that worked with the Vietnamese and Yen Bai communities to swiftly address the aftermath of the floods and storms, at the outset of the meeting.

Nguyen The Phuoc, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee, stated that Typhoon No. 3 impacted 26 out of 63 provinces, with Yen Bai being one of the most severely afflicted. Landslides and flooding resulted from the Red River and the Chay River reaching historic flood levels due to the lengthy, heavy rainfall. The Yen Bai storm resulted in the evacuation of over 21,000 individuals, severe road and infrastructure devastation, and disruptions to electricity and communication systems. Additionally, it caused 54 fatalities, 42 injuries, and damage to over 7,000 hectares of agricultural production.

Nevertheless, Yen Bai has made a concerted effort to recover from the repercussions of Typhoon No. 3 with the assistance of the government, MARD, and international organizations, including Switzerland. The bodies of the final two missing individuals were discovered following the search for victims. Temporary housing and fundamental living conditions have been provided to all displaced residents, whose homes were destroyed, during the recovery process.

The province is presently assisting in the reconstruction of 1,400 houses for families that have been impacted by the storm, according to the leader of Yen Bai. Agricultural production has been partially resumed, and the entire infrastructure system has been restored to a fundamental level, despite the ongoing challenges.

"International organizations, such as the Swiss expert team, have assisted in accelerating the recovery process." Nguyen The Phuoc stated that Switzerland provided cash assistance to households in addition to material aid, which was significant during this challenging period. This assistance helped individuals stabilize their lives and continue the restoration of production.

The leadership of Yen Bai is dedicated to ensuring that Switzerland's assistance is utilized effectively, reaching the appropriate individuals promptly, thereby enabling residents to swiftly resume their normal lives.

Switzerland's solidarity and assistance to the Vietnamese populace who have been impacted by natural calamities have become even more critical during this period, as Minister Le Minh Hoan disclosed that Europe has also encountered unusual floods this year.

Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass, conveyed his condolences for the losses that Vietnam experienced as a result of Typhoon No. 3. He was also impressed by the Vietnamese government's prompt and decisive action to assist in the recovery process.

The Vietnamese government implemented measures to safeguard its citizens and international travelers at popular destinations like Sapa and Ha Long, despite the catastrophic effects of the storm.

The Ambassador underscored that Switzerland was able to provide support in an efficient and timely way as a result of the collaboration between the Vietnamese government and MARD. He expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese government for entrusting Switzerland with the responsibility of evaluating the situation in Yen Bai promptly following the storm.

Concerning the initiatives implemented in Yen Bai Michael Fichter, the team commander of the rescue team from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), expressed his admiration for the collaboration mechanism between the expert team and Yen Bai province. Fichter anticipated that Switzerland's assistance would contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life for certain residents.

The Swiss expert team conducted training sessions for residents on the operation of clean water and sanitation apparatus, as well as the testing of devices, in relation to clean water and sanitation. Some of this equipment has been deployed in the districts and communes of Yen Bai, while the remainder is being stored for future natural disaster scenarios.

The crew supplied Yen Bai with 16 sets of well-cleaning equipment and rented machinery to clear roads that had been affected by landslides. In response to Typhoon No. 3, the team provided financial assistance to 621 households on September 27.

The Swiss Ambassador revealed that Switzerland is collaborating with partners such as MARD and the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority to investigate potential future support opportunities, in addition to its current initiatives, which include road clearing and financial assistance.

The Ambassador expressed his desire to collaborate with MARD in order to promptly and efficiently distribute 1 million Swiss francs (approximately 1.2 million USD) to individuals in need.

Ambassador Thomas Gass shared that Switzerland intends to maintain his collaboration with MARD in the field of agricultural insurance. He anticipates that the ongoing catastrophe prevention initiatives in Vietnam will motivate all stakeholders to intensify their efforts in the development of long-term agricultural insurance programs.

Minister Le Minh Hoan suggested that Switzerland establish a program to recall experts to Yen Bai in order to assess and facilitate the improvement of the community's ability to respond to natural disasters, adapt to climate change, and develop technologies such as remote sensing and insurance.

The Minister confirmed that MARD would resolve procedural issues and technical obstacles in order to facilitate the execution of international cooperation projects in Vietnam.