On 23 July 2018, the hydroelectric dam collapse in the southern province of Attapeu, Laos occurred, flooding many villages and affecting thousands of people. Inspired by the special brotherhood between the two countries and the two Red Cross Societies of Laos and Vietnam and the responsibility of a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Vietnam Red Cross Society conducted its first international relief operation mission to Attapeu.
 |
|
The Vietnam Red Cross’ Delegation handed over household kits to affected people in Attapeu, Laos |
The Vietnam Red Cross Headquarters decided to release 50,000 USD from the emergency response fund and discharge 100 household kits from the warehouse in the Central region to support affected families in Attapeu. A mission of the Vietnam Red Cross led by Mme Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, the President of the Natioanl Society was deployed right on 30th July 2018 to directly support the operation there and confort affected people. Echoing the response action of the Vietnam Red Cross, Nano Pham Gia Company decided to provide additional 100 mosquito nets, 60 family water filters and 2 community water treatment units of the total value of 220 million Vietnamese Dongand also join the mission to Attapeu.
 |
 |
| Distribution of household kits and Water filters |
In the morning of 31st July 2018, after more than 1 hour travel Vietnam Red Cross’ Delegation approached the evacuation camp in Sanamsay district, Attapeu province where more than 1,000 affected people were being hosted. Many international relief delegations and thousands of volunteers from China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. gathered at the same place with the same purpose of supporting people in needs. It continued to rain occasionally which made the road muddy causing lots of difficulties to access affected areas. Only specialized pickup vans could reach the camp instead of big freight trucks. Happy faces of children receiving supporting items and foods gave more motivation for relief teams to work even harder to order to support people in needs.
 |
 |
| The more difficulties relief teams met the harder they worked |
Reporter: Lan Anh