Vietnam presents 1,000 tonnes of rice to Lao flood victims

Despite its heavy losses of life and property caused by recent floods in the central region, the Vietnamese government has decided to deliver 1,000 tonnes of rice as relief aid to the Lao government to assist flood-hit people in Savanakhet province.
November 14, 2020 | 08:17
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Vietnam presents 1,000 tonnes of rice to Lao flood victims
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung (R) hands over the token of the relief aid of 1,000 tonnes of rice from the Vietnamese Government to Lao Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Chanthaphone Khammanichanh. Photo: VNA

According to VNA, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung symbolically handed over the token of the relief aid to Lao Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Chanthaphone Khammanichanh on November 13.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony held virtually in Hanoi and Vientiane, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his hope that the aid will help Lao people soon overcome consequences of the natural disasters and stablise their lives.

For his part, Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith thanked the Party, State, Government, and people of Vietnam for the donation, saying that the aid is timely support for Lao people in general, and residents in Savannakhet province in particular, in the current difficult time.

He spoke highly of the cooperation between the two countries in recent years, affirming that the Party, State, Government and people of Laos will always do their best together with their Vietnamese counterparts to constantly nurture the Vietnam – Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

The Lao PM took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on its successful assumption of the role as ASEAN Chair in 2020, and wished the 37th ASEAN Summit a great success.

The Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare reported that last month Vilabouly, Nong, Phin and Xepon districts of Savannakhet were hit by flash flooding amid torrential rains that lasted a week, reported Lao News.

According to the Savannakhet’s situation report, over 32,800 people across five districts have been affected by the floods, and more than 2,600 people have been evacuated. Those rescued were placed in temporary centres, tents, schools and relatives’ houses.

Vietnam presents 1,000 tonnes of rice to Lao flood victims
Many villages in Savannakhet province, some 410 km east of Lao capital Vientiane, were hit by flash flooding amid torrential rains. Source: Laotian Times

In Vietnam, many areas nationwide have been left submerged in floodwater due to spells of heavy rain triggered by the 12th storm to hit Vietnam this year, Etau, while the central region has continued to suffer from a series of deadly landslides.

Since October 6, the central region of Vietnam has experienced prolonged and heavy rains, storm surge, and strong winds, leading to severe flooding and landslides which have seriously impacted over 1.3 million people, inundated and damaged nearly 300,000 houses.

Various Vietnamese delegations had offered aid and necessities to flood victims in Laos.

A delegation led by Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung on October 26 presented part of a donation raised by the Vietnamese community in Laos to the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to support flood victims in eight districts in Savannakhet.

The Vietnamese Embassy and people living in Laos have arranged fundraising activities to help people of the two nations promptly overcome flood consequences and resume their normal life, he said, adding that some LAK150 million (USD 16,210 ) has been raised./.

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