OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Viet Nam - Floods
27 September 2002


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the UN
Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, and UNDP/MARD-Disaster Management Unit,
Government, Red Cross, NGO and media reports.

Situation and Damage

Floods

Mekong Delta

1.  Water levels in the Mekong River started rising in late June. In
mid-September, water levels receded in the upper reaches of the river, but
continued rising downstream, flooding the provinces of Long An, Dong Thap,
and An Giang in the Duong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) and Long Xuyen
Quadrangle areas.  Water levels in these areas continued rising, and are
expected to keep rising over the next few days. Water levels in the two
tributaries of the Mekong River, the Tien and the Hau, are above Alarm
Level 3 (very dangerous flood condition).

2.  In the Mekong River Delta, according to the UNDP/MARD-Disaster
Management Unit on 25 September, the floods have killed 82 people. A total
of 59,515 houses have been flooded, 790 houses damaged and 145 have
collapsed.  A total of 15,204 households have been relocated, and 19,998
more still need to be evacuated. Sixty-eight bridges have been damaged or
destroyed, and 30 sluices damaged.  According to the press, 76 of those
killed were children.

3.  The report indicates that 24,770 households need assistance and that
if the flooding lasts, over 70,000 households will.


Central Provinces

4.  Flash floods provoked by torrential rains and described as the worst
since 1934 have occurred in the past week in the provinces of Ha Tinh and
Nghe An, about 250 kilometers south of Hanoi. According to the press, the
floods submerged more than 80 % of the communes in Huong Son and half of
the communes in Huong Khe, Vu Quang and Duc Tho districts, all of them in
Ha Tinh Province.  They also provoked landslides, and temporarily cut off
the north-south railway.  Flood water levels of rivers in the central
provinces and the Central Highlands are receding, and the forecast is that
they will continue doing so.

5.  According to the press, flash floods hit the district of Chu Prong, in
the province of Gia Lai in the Central Highlands, on Tueday, 24 September,
damaging crops and infrastructure. The damage is estimated at USD 100,000.

6. As of 25 September, the UNDP/MARD-Disaster Management Unit reported
that 50 had been killed and 111 injured in Ha Tinh Province, which was the
hardest hit of the two provinces.  In Ha Tinh, over 53,000 houses were
flooded and 7,253 had collapsed or been swept away, 1,014 small bridges
and sluices were damaged or swept away, 179 dams were broken and 26 km of
outer dykes were damaged.  Close to 40 metric tons of harvested rice have
been spoilt. Damages in the province are estimated at USD 50.4 million.

7.  In Nghe An Province, 18 people have been killed and 6 injured. A total
of 11,116 houses have been flooded, 123 unroofed and 26 swept away. Damage
is estimated at USD 8.1 million.


National and International Response

Mekong Delta

8.  As of 23 September, localities in the Mekong Delta had provided 45,600
USD as emergency aid to 2,744 flood-affected households and free medical
check-ups to 4,683 people. A total of 835 temporary kindergartens have
been set up, that are caring for over 17,500 children.

9.  UNICEF has provided USD 240,000 worth of aid, including water filters,
school kits and medical supplies, to the three most-affected provinces.


Central Provinces

10.  In order to minimize the loss of life and property, the provincial
authorities are working with the army, the police and relevant bodies to
strengthen preparedness and mitigation activities, rescue and assist
people in flooded areas, and repair damaged houses and public
infrastructure. Food and emergency relief, as well as financial assistance
to buy boats and fishing gear are being distributed to those affected by
the flood. Doctors and nurses are helping to treat water, and free
healthcare and medical check-ups are being provided to prevent epidemics
and diseases during and after the floods.

11.  On 24 September, the Government announced it would provide 500 metric
tons of rice and USD 600,000 to Ha Tinh Province and 250 metric tons of
rice and USD 300,000 to Nghe An Province to assist flood victims.

12.  The Vietnam Red Cross has been involved in search and rescue
activities, mobilizing 5 brigades of 50 to 70 people each, traveling by
boat, and has distributed assistance in the two provinces.

13.  The UN Disaster Management Team is monitoring the situation and will
decide at a meeting next week whether to field an inter-agency assessment
team to the central provinces and the Mekong Delta area.

14. The Government has not appealed for international assistance.

15.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and
their corresponding values by item.

16. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator in Viet Nam.

17.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int



Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Rudolf Muller / Ms. Marie Spaak
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131/17 28

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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