Disaster Relief
Thua Thien Hue is known also as one of the three regions in Vietnam that is heavily affected by the annual monsoon weather which spreads from July to December causing flood and damages annually. In some rainy seasons, such as that of 1999, intense monsoon rain and wind caused major devastation and took countless lives. FHF came shortly after that to provide short-term and long-term assistance to victims, especially the children caught in a time of turmoil and unrest. Immediate aids have been in the form of rice, food, water, clothes, blanket, school furniture, construction materials, and cash. Also, medical relief is usually launched to provide free health services, medicines, and first-aid supplies to victims. FHF relief has reached victims in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, and Phu Yen provinces.
Long-term assistance is often about reconstruction of schools and homes. In 2009, we rebuilt homes for Mrs. Them and Mrs. Ne. Very important in these efforts were the 2009 collaboration with The Center for the Encouragement of Self Reliance (CESR), FHF, and the people of the Loi Nong Hamlet, Thuy Chau Village, Huong Thuy districts. Loi Nong is flooded every year and its only school, which was on the highest ground level, was flooded up to half the building annually. It was very old, dilapidated and unsafe. The joint effort resulted in a flood refuge center for their children and the elderly and will also be used as their new school. In 2009 alone, FHF spent over $25,000 in disaster relief services.
2007
As reported from our staff in Thua Thien – Hue Province: “Since Saturday November 17, by using trucks and speed boats, Friends of Hue and FESR have been distributing 70,000 kilograms of rice and 700 boxes of instant noodles to 700 flood victim families of the most affected including Quang Thanh, Quang Tho, Phong Binh, Huong Phong and Quang An. Our staff and a volunteer medical team will be following up with mobile medical clinics. When the FHF Children Shelter’s first floor was submerged under water, our children and staff evacuated to the second floor waiting for the storm to subside, and our staff still managed to activate our emergency relief plan to distribute food and other necessities to 600 families.
FHF Flood Relief Distribution Effort
FHF welcomes any organizations that want to join us in this effort. All the accomplishments above have been possible due to the generous donations of chu Nguyen Van Van, Co Chu Phung Lien Doan, chi Vi Tuong Nguyen and many of FHF donors. FHF still needs more help: “People are still in desperate need for food, water and fuel. The help is just not enough. We are planning for a second batch of distribution of clean water making kits, condensed milk, sugar, salt and
possibly oil (dau lua). A medical team with medicine will be followed. We anticipate that the Cholera situation will get worse with the lack of clean water. The approaching fifth storm of the month will cause more suffering to the people.”
Copyrighted photos courtesy of Photographer Doug Young, another friend and lover of Hue.
2006
On the 11th of October, 2006, FHF organized the distribution of 1,280 cement-metal sheets (worth $2,000 USD) for 64 families with collapsed houses in villages of LocVinh (14 families), Loc Binh (10 families), LocTien (10 families), LocDien (10 families), LocAn (10 families) and LangCo (10 families), all in the PhuLoc District of Thua Thien Hue province. Each family received 20 pieces of cement-metal sheet (worth 500.000dvn=$31.44US per family) to repair their houses. Before carrying out the program, FHF consulted with the local People’s Committees of 6 communes and Thua Thien Hue’s Red Cross in order to select the 64 families, out of a total of 603, to assist. Selection was based on financial need.
After material distribution, the assisted villagers and the local authorities from the six communes thanked us for the timely support of FHF. Our assistance enables the villagers to rebuild their houses and return to a stable life. Central Vietnam frequently suffers from major natural disasters such as floods and typhoons. In 1999, Thua Thien Hue suffered the worst floods in 500 years, resulting in widespread economic and environmental devastation from which the region has taken years to recover from. The Friends of Hue Foundation provides emergency relief and reconstruction, particularly in the forms of food, dwelling reconstruction assistance, clothing, and immediate healthcare. The Foundation holds fund-raising activities to deal with specific emergencies as they occur.