Spreading kindness, strengthening connections

The floods in late November caused severe damage to many residents of Khanh Hoa Province. In response, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Khanh Hoa Province has swiftly fulfilled its role of promoting solidarity, mobilizing relief resources and promptly distributing aid to affected communities to regain stability.

Tran Thu Mai gives an aid gift to the family of Luu Thi Kim Cuong (Phu Hau Village, Suoi Hiep Commune).

Spreading kindness

For nearly half a month, the headquarters of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Khanh Hoa has remained open from early morning until late at night to receive support from agencies, organizations, businesses, armed forces, people from all walks of life, overseas Vietnamese and foreigners. Together, they have joined hands to help overcome the damage caused by the floods.

Among the contributors was a tourist named Jean Mrec Poufsan. Moved by news of the devastation caused by the floods, he personally went to the Fatherland Front Committee to donate VND40 million, hoping his support would ease local hardships and inspire a spirit of sharing within the community. “Tran Nguyen Duy Thien, a student at Xuong Huan Primary School in Nha Trang Ward, said: ‘Luckily, my house wasn’t flooded. But when I saw others suffering, I felt really sad. So I decided to break my piggy bank and asked my relative to give VND500,000 to help friends have a safe place, food to eat and school supplies.”

Thanks to such acts of kindness, by December 3, the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee had received thousands of tons of goods and approximately VND 350 billion in donations from organizations, individuals, and businesses. Notably, the province also received strong support from Ho Chi Minh City.

Officials of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee prepare goods to be distributed to affected people.

Since November 22, Ho Chi Minh City has established a relief working group with six key task forces to promptly support Khanh Hoa in overcoming the aftermath of the floods. Ho Chi Minh City has delivered about 2,400 tons of goods so far, while individuals, organizations, and businesses have contributed an additional 81 tons. The Ho Chi Minh City Red Cross, in coordination with the Provincial Red Cross and related units, has received 30 tons of supplies. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, working with the Provincial Youth Union, has mobilized 341 tons of goods along with thousands of gifts.

Timely assistance

In addition to receiving donations, the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee promptly coordinated the delivery of relief to affected communities. The Committee has allocated VND 15.5 billion for emergency needs and uniforms for students in flood-hit areas. Many agencies have also been connected and guided to reach localities: Agribank contributed VND 1.1 billion to support 110 schools; Dai-ichi Life’s “For a Beautiful Life” Fund donated 150 gifts to residents of Suoi Hiep Commune; overseas Vietnamese in the Czech Republic provided VND 300 million to support Dien Lac Commune; and businesses offered thousands of gifts to severely affected localities.

Jean Mrec Poufsan donates VND40 million to flood recovery efforts.

Especially, amid rising floodwaters, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Khanh Hoa mobilized funds and partnered with supermarkets to urgently deliver over 11,360 boxes of essential goods to severely affected communes and wards, including Dien Lam, Dien, Phan Rang, Bao An, Dong Hai, Phuoc Hau, Phuoc Dinh, Tay Nha Trang, Tay Ninh Hoa, and Khanh Vinh. Relief vehicles braved flooded and muddy roads to bring rice, noodles, drinking water, flashlights, and other necessities directly to those in need.

Luu Thi Kim Cuong, a resident of Phu Hau Village in Suoi Hiep Commune, said, “The water level rose more than 2 meters, submerging our house and damaging almost everything inside. During the most difficult time, my family received timely encouragement and support from the province. We are especially grateful for the essential supplies and financial assistance delivered by representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.”

Up to now, all essential goods from Ho Chi Minh City, together with 179 tons of supplies from other localities and tens of thousands of gifts, school materials, and household items, have been distributed to flood-affected areas. The Ho Chi Minh City relief team served 87,630 meals over five peak days, delivered aid to heavily inundated communities, provided free medical check-ups and medicines to more than 3,000 people, coordinated the distribution of gifts to students and poor households, and mobilized 16 excavators, garbage trucks, and 300 workers to support post-flood clean-up efforts.

Representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Relief Delegation and the Provincial Military Command present aid gifts to residents in Khanh Vinh Commune.

Tran Thu Mai, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, stated: “We deeply appreciate the kindness of organizations, agencies, individuals and businesses who promptly provided funds and goods for flood-affected communities. Thanks to the close coordination between the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organizations, and local authorities, aid was swiftly delivered to those in need. Importantly, distribution was tailored to the specific needs of each locality, ensuring effective support for stabilizing people’s lives.”

In addition to sources of support, the province promptly issued policies to assist flood-affected residents. Disadvantaged families whose homes were inundated received VND 1 million per person, while students from primary to high school were granted VND 500,000 for books and supplies, along with VND 300,000 for uniforms. At the same time, the province urgently launched the “Quang Trung Campaign” to rebuild and repair houses, providing VND 60 million per household for new construction and VND 30 million for repairs.

K.H

Translated by N.T