Australia delivers emergency relief supplies to flood-affected communities in Bac Ninh

On October 14, the Vietnam Dyke and Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has received emergency relief supplies from the Australian Government, delivered through the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, to assist flood-affected residents in Bac Ninh province.

This marks the second shipment of international relief for Vietnamese localities impacted by recent storms No. 10 and No. 11. Acting under the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Department serves as the central coordination body, facilitating information exchange and cooperation between donors and affected local authorities.

Representing Vietnam at the handover ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Director General of the Department, and Ms. Thai Hai Anh, Vice Chairwoman of the Bac Ninh Provincial Fatherland Front Committee. Representing Australia was Ms. Renee Jean Deschamps, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Vietnam.

The shipment includes 320 kitchen sets, 756 hygiene kits, 756 toolkits for home repair, and 300 blankets. The supplies are scheduled to be delivered to Bac Ninh on October 15 for local distribution to families in disaster-stricken areas.

At the ceremony held at Noi Bai International Airport on the night of October 14, Ms. Deschamps expressed heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam over the recent heavy losses caused by floods in the northern and north-central regions. She reaffirmed Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting Vietnam through its aid programs to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation capacity.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Truong Son and Vice Chairwoman Thai Hai Anh expressed their sincere gratitude to the Australian Government and people for their valuable assistance, pledging to ensure the timely and transparent delivery of the relief goods to affected communities in Bac Ninh.

Ms. Thai Hai Anh conveyed the appreciation of the Bac Ninh provincial leadership and residents to the Australian Government, the people of Australia, and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam for their timely and practical support to local residents in need.

“These donated household items, repair kits, and blankets are not only of material value but also serve as an immense source of spiritual encouragement, reflecting the friendship and enduring cooperation between Vietnam and Australia”, she said.

Bac Ninh authorities also praised the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for its strong coordination role in connecting the province with Australian partners. “The Ministry’s engagement has greatly contributed to fostering effective collaboration between our locality and international friends, particularly in disaster response and climate resilience”, Ms. Hai Anh noted, adding that Bac Ninh would ensure fair and transparent distribution to the most affected households.

In addition to the Australian shipment, the Department announced it would soon receive further relief donations from Russia, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre), and other international organizations.

Earlier, on October 13, the Department received emergency relief supplies from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for residents in Bac Ninh. These aid packages included essential items such as kitchen utensils, household goods, repair tools, water filters, sanitation products, and cash assistance for local communities.

The Japanese relief shipment reached Bac Ninh on October 14 via a “zero-cost” transport provided by Ngoc Duc Hang Transport and Trading Joint Stock Company.

At the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership meeting held the same day to assess damage and urgent relief needs, several embassies and international organizations pledged additional financial assistance for flood-affected areas in Vietnam, including over USD 1.93 million from the Australian Embassy, USD 1 million from the RoK Embassy, USD 532,000 from the European Union, USD 350,000 from World Vision, USD 100,000 from CRS, USD 58,000 from Plan International, USD 30,000 from HWA, and USD 150,000 from Care International.

Some photos of the Vietnam Dyke and Disaster Management Authority receiving emergency relief supplies from the Australian Government for flood-affected residents in Bac Ninh province: