OCHA Situation Report No. 6 Viet Nam - Floods 20 October 2000
United Nations Inter-Agency Appeal for Emergency Relief and Initial Rehabilitation 1. This year's devastating floods in Asia have not spared Viet Nam. People living in the Mekong river delta in the south of the country are currently struggling with the worst and longest-lasting floods in the last 60 years. More than 5 million people in southern Viet Nam have been affected and, according to latest updates, at least 460 people have been killed. Some 670,000 people have either been relocated or are in urgent need of relocation. While the Vietnamese Government has made every possible effort to alleviate the impact of the disaster, its relief capacity has been overwhelmed. As agreed with the Government, the UN has assisted with assessments of damage and needs as well as provision of relief to the flood victims. 2. The UN Inter-Agency Appeal for Emergency Relief and Initial Rehabilitation has been prepared by the UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in Hanoi, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team and the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor for Asia have supported this effort. 3. The UN Appeal seeks contributions worth USD 9,433,650 to assist the worst affected members of the population for 6 months. UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNICEF, FAO and OCHA aim to provide assistance in the following sectors: alternative livelihood, shelter, health, water and sanitation, education and child protection, food and agriculture, and coordination, management and logistics support. 4. The UN Appeal was launched on 20 October 2000 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and is herewith also launched through OCHA Geneva and OCHA New York. 5. The Government of Luxembourg has decided to provide LUF 15 million (USD 330,000) through OCHA, which will be used for immediate assistance in the health sector. Further to an earlier contribution of USD 90,000, OCHA allocated an additional amount of USD 60,000 from its Emergency Grant Reserve, including funds from Norway and Denmark, towards the activities outlined in the Appeal. 6. To respond to the UN Inter-Agency Appeal, donors can make their contributions directly to the United Nations Agencies concerned or directly to the Vietnamese Government. The UNDP Country Office in Viet Nam has established a Trust Fund to serve as a rapid channel for contributions that will be prioritized and allocated in close consultations with UNDMT members and government officials. Donations can be made directly to this Fund or through OCHA which is also available to serve as channel for unearmarked contributions. OCHA will provide donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed. Funds channelled through OCHA should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Viet Nam - Floods. 7. The UN Appeal is available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int and from OCHA Geneva and New York, on request. For additional information, please contact the Asia and Pacific Desk of the Disaster Response Branch, OCHA Geneva, as indicated below. Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -