Vietnam mobilizes strong response as Typhoon Yagi leaves behind catastrophic consequences
The storm made landfall in the north of the country on Saturday with winds of up to 213 kilometres (133 miles) per hour, causing severe flooding and landslides, and forcing more than 50,000 people to evacuate.
As of Wednesday, at least 179 people were reported dead, including children, according to media reports. Hundreds were injured and more than 47,500 homes were damaged or destroyed.
“The power and intensity of The storm left behind catastrophic consequences, with millions of families severely affected. in coastal areas as well as mountainous and hard-to-reach areas,” said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a Newsletterissued late Monday.
The agency estimates that 5.5 million children are among the 19 million people living in the worst-affected areas.
Coordinated response
In response, the government has launched a comprehensive relief effort, deploying more than 438,000 officials, soldiers, disaster response experts and volunteers.
The Government has also called on all disaster and humanitarian actors, including UNICEF, to support the response.
UNICEF is actively working with UN agencies and partners to assess needs and provide emergency support in areas such as child protection, water and sanitation, nutrition, health and education.
“A supply plan has been activated to mobilize pre-arranged essential supplies.at the national level and in warehouses across the region, and through [our] global supply chain, if necessary,” the agency added.
Damage caused by Typhoon Yagi in Cam Pha, a major port in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam.
The Path of Destruction
Typhoon Yagi’s destructive path also extended to neighboring countries, with casualties and damage reported in the Philippines and China.
The Philippine National Disaster Management Agency has recorded 21 deaths, with 26 people still missing as of Wednesday.
In China, media reported four people were killed and about 100 injured on the southern island of Hainan.
The combined effects of monsoon and tropical disturbances also caused flash floods in northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand.
