On September 29 Typhoon Ketsana roared through Danang and central Vietnam with winds up to 90 mph and dumping 10 to 15 inches of rain. Children of Vietnam offices did not suffer too much damage, but our food warehouse lost its roof. Per our Country Director, Ms. Hong, “two /third of food have got wet, but each small box covered by plastic bag so we have to use a lot of towels to dry each bag and put to another box. 620 Boxes ax 36 bag = 22,420 bags. About 25 people help us yesterday including 7 COV staff, Hai Chau Orphans, our University Scholarship students. We finished around 7 PM.” Ms. Hong and the volunteers knew that salvaging this food (fortified rice, tofu and vegetable mix) was vital to provide some relief for people flooded by the storm. Staff are now swamped with requests for food and housing assistance.
Our staff are focusing on the immediate need now and will send photos and a full report shortly after the situation becomes less severe. So far we have learned that two of the poorest districts of Danang have suffered considerably, In Hoa Van, a very rural district, 64 villages and 5,384 people are flooded with water (up to 2 meter is some locations), 92 households have completely collapsed, and 1,089 household have lost all their roofs. In Gnu Hanh Son, 50 household have completely collapsed and 500 households lost their roofs. We know the need will be great for sometime to come until families are able to rebuild and begin their lives again. COV is using it limited emergency funds to provide relief and we are also redirecting our food stocks originally designated to supply food supplements to 11 agencies in the area (orphanages, street children programs, old people and people with disabilities homes.)
We are asking for donations for our emergency funds which will be dedicated to crisis food, health, and housing support. Your gift would be a tremendous lift to the families and children facing this crisis. Please act now by making a donation.
We will share more information as it becomes available.
Thank you,
Ben Wilson, President and Founder
Hoa Mai Orphanage damage. The wind ripped off the roof of many of the buildings. The damage was so severe the children were evacuated and can no longer live there until repairs are made.
Going to the southern part of Quangnam Province, staff delivered Typhoon Ketsana relief packages to the people of Tam Giang and Tam Hai island wards. As part of this effort, children received school supplies to replace books, notebooks, and pencils that were washed away and/or water damaged.
At this time, our staff are spending all of their energy distributing relief packages to people without food or shelter. A single relief package cost about $13.00 per family and includes rice, noodles, oil, canned fish, and blankets and mosquito nets when families have minimal shelter.
After the Typhoon Ketsana ripped off the roof of our food warehouse, all of our food was at risk of spoiling. Staff acted quickly to salvage the thousands of meals generously donated by Stop Hunger Now. This food product is a highly fortified dehydrated tofu and vegetable mix designated for distribution to eleven institutions providing shelter for poor children and their families, orphans, street children, and old people’s homes within Danang City and Quangnam Province. Salvaging this fortified food was critical as the typhoon has negatively impacted many facilities, homes and crops. Stop Hunger Now is a major partner and contributor to our Nutrition Initiative, and in response to our successful salvaging efforts, Rod Brooks, Stop Hunger Now, CEO, sent the message below.
