Viet Nam's DRRP committed to delivering essential aid within one week of disaster

On October 9, the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) convened a meeting to share updates on the post-storm flooding situation and plan a rapid assessment of damages and recovery needs. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, focused on current disaster impacts in the northern and central regions and on coordinating the upcoming rapid assessment and response actions.

Viet Nam is calling for urgent relief to support storm and flood-affected communities, including essential goods, clean water, food, medicines, home repair tools and supplies, seeds and fertilizers for the new crop, and cash assistance. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment pledged to deliver essential relief items to affected areas within one week at the latest.

The United Nations delegation, led by Ms. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to coordinated action. On behalf of UN agencies, she highlighted that under the co-leadership of VDDMA and DRRP, and with support from sector coordination mechanisms, collective contributions will be mobilized to ensure timely, needs-based, and nationally aligned assistance. She encouraged all partners to use this platform to create real, measurable impacts for those most affected by the storms.

Ms. Tamesis emphasized that resource mobilization should be guided by the post-disaster needs assessment, noting that the UN and MAE will jointly develop a response plan focused on recovery solutions for the most vulnerable groups.

Ms. Sylvia Danailova, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam, shared that UNICEF had activated its emergency response in close coordination with WHO and the Ministry of Health (MOH). Over 1 million Aquatabs have been pre-positioned with the MOH for immediate water disinfection. Of these, 25,000 tablets have already been distributed to Tuyen Quang, and 280,000 more are being delivered to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Ninh Binh.

“UNICEF has WASH supplies, Child Protection Kits, Aquatabs, and water tanks ready for deployment within one week once funding becomes available,” Ms. Sylvia said, emphasizing that UNICEF’s response will be fully coordinated through DRRP and UN mechanisms to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication.

The Nutrition Emergency Cluster has also been activated, with an updated action plan and a stockpile of 900 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements, sufficient to support 10,000 malnourished children.

Country Director Le Thi Thanh Huong from Save the Children Viet Nam reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to working closely with the Government. She noted that lessons learned from Typhoon Yagi have helped shape a more effective response approach and expressed appreciation for VDDMA's strong coordination and engagement.

Save the Children has pledged VND 500 million in support for Ha Tinh and over VND 1 billion for Bac Ninh, with the hope that assistance will reach affected communities swiftly. The organization is also mobilizing additional resources and developing a USD 1.5 million response plan to continue supporting the Government, local authorities, and impacted households.

UNDP in Viet Nam also expressed readiness to deploy teams to support the rapid damage and risk assessment. Representative Ramla Khalidi emphasized: “We can use this opportunity to build on lessons from the multi-sector assessment conducted for Typhoon Yagi, as well as recommendations from our previous collaboration with the European Union and other partners.”

She reiterated UNDP’s strong commitment to working with IOM and partners in the Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) sector, stressing that housing remains one of the most critical vulnerabilities for communities hit by floods and strong winds.

“Our key focus will be on livelihoods and helping those who have lost agricultural land, micro and small businesses recover and become self-reliant again,” Ms. Khalidi said, underscoring the importance of resilience, early warning systems, and building local capacity to support vulnerable communities.

Alongside UNDP, IOM serves as co-lead of the Shelter and NFI Cluster, which has already been activated. This week, IOM delivered relief items worth USD 52,000 to Ha Tinh, including 500 household kits and drinking water. In the shelter sector, the Red Cross, World Vision, and Samaritan’s Purse are also collaborating to ensure that affected families have safe homes and roofs over their heads, echoing Ms. Khalidi’s message.

“We are ready to stand with you and provide continued support. IOM counts on your leadership to address bottlenecks, resolve challenges, and reach the most vulnerable populations,” said Ms. Kendra Rinas, Chief of Mission of IOM Viet Nam, in her message to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Mr. Rafael De Bustamante, representing the EU Delegation to Viet Nam, conveyed the European Union’s solidarity with the people and Government of Viet Nam. He emphasized that the EU has long supported Viet Nam not only in emergency response but also in prevention and climate adaptation initiatives, including flood mitigation efforts in the Mekong Delta and other regions.

He shared that Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son is scheduled to meet soon with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Commissioner for International Partnerships, underscoring the EU’s ongoing commitment to close cooperation with Viet Nam, as has been demonstrated over many years.

Mr. De Bustamante also expressed hope for the upcoming joint assessment, confirming that the EU Delegation in Viet Nam stands ready to act promptly as a trusted and long-term partner.

Ms. Naomi Cook from the Australian Embassy shared that, as in previous years, Australia was among the first countries to respond to Viet Nam’s call for assistance after Typhoon Yagi.

She noted that Australia was pleased to provide immediate relief, including temporary shelters, WASH kits, and hygiene kits. The embassy also worked closely with UN agencies through the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and international NGOs to ensure that local needs were addressed effectively. Australia stands ready to continue supporting the Government based on upcoming needs assessments and will respond swiftly to any official requests for assistance.

Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland to Viet Nam, Mr. Aldo de Luca, also expressed solidarity, stating: “We have already alerted our authorities back home about the urgent needs caused by this tragedy, which has once again struck Viet Nam. Unfortunately, such disasters are becoming increasingly frequent.”

He emphasized that Viet Nam lies on the frontline of climate change, making it vital to dedicate greater attention and resources to disaster prevention. Switzerland looks forward to the results of the initial assessment to coordinate a timely and effective response.

He added that Switzerland has considerable experience in this field, as some of its regions have faced similar calamities in the past. Switzerland has developed strong disaster prevention and mitigation expertise that can be shared with Viet Nam.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) offered condolences to those severely affected by the recent storms, sending thoughts to grieving families or those facing uncertainty about the future. UNFPA is active within the Protection Cluster and responds to health-related needs.

“We know that the needs in the affected provinces are greatest right now. Further protection efforts will follow once the assessment teams complete their work. Our primary support will be through cash assistance, which is one of the fastest ways to reach those most in need,” said UNFPA Country Representative Matt Jackson.

He added that UNFPA is also working to provide dignity kits so that women, adolescent girls, and young people can maintain their dignity during this difficult time, especially those sheltering in temporary facilities or cut off from services due to damaged infrastructure.

Medical assistance is also considered a top priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) in Viet Nam, in collaboration with UNICEF, has provided 800,000 Aquatabs, along with 900 water containers and clean water storage buckets, to ensure safe drinking water. Support is being channeled through community health workers, focusing on improving access to clean water and preventing vector-borne and waterborne diseases such as dengue and diarrhea.

“In the spirit of building back better, we are also exploring ways to strengthen the resilience of health facilities, ensuring they can better withstand future disasters,” said Ms. Jennifer Horton, Deputy Representative of WHO in Viet Nam.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among government agencies, international organizations, and development partners to work hand in hand in the coming days to ensure a swift and coordinated response.