People leave the partially submerged Thien Trung Hotel on a flooded street caused by Typhoon Ketsana, in Vietnam's central city of Hoi An September 30, 2009. Credit: Reuters/Kham/Courtesy of Alertnet.org
Oxfam’s planned aid package is expected to reach 40,000 affected people

Vietnam lashed by typhoon

“Thanks to the efforts of the Vietnamese authorities the death toll has been kept relatively low and relief efforts are moving ahead quickly.”
Steve Price-Thomas
Oxfam Vietnam Country Director
Published: 30 September 2009

Oxfam to send 11-strong team of aid workers to storm-hit zone

International aid agency Oxfam will send an 11-strong team of aid experts to the storm-hit province of Kon Tum in central Vietnam, hit by typhoon Ketsana last night. They will carry out an assessment of needs and start initial response work immediately.

Oxfam’s planned $950,000 aid package is expected to reach 40,000 affected people over three-months with cash for food and household items, water supplies, running hygiene promotion programs, and helping people recover their livelihoods.

Steve Price-Thomas, Oxfam Vietnam Country Director, said: "The full impacts of typhoon Ketsana in Vietnam are only now becoming clear. Hundreds of thousands of people are affected.  Thanks to the efforts of the Vietnamese authorities the death toll has been kept relatively low and relief efforts are moving ahead quickly.”

Notes to Editors

Background

Typhoon Ketsana directly affected 13 Central provinces of Vietnam on 29
September 2009, including: Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang,
Dak Nong, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Kon Tum, Dak Lac, Lam
Dong and Gia Lai.   Kon Tum, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai are the hardest hit
provinces.

Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. As well as exposure to sea level rise, Vietnam is facing more unpredictable and violent storms, such as Typhoon Ketsana. Ketsana highlights the vital importance of the world reaching a safe and fair deal at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December.

Oxfam works with Vietnamese partners on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, as well as disaster response.  Typhoon Ketsana shows the vital importance of this work.