CARE staff report

In Vietnam: The Mekong River flows from South China down through Southeast Asia before entering Vietnam and then dumping out to the South China sea. Unusually heavy flows through the Mekong network in upstream countries joined with relentless, heavy rains to raise water levels to catastrophic proportions in Vietnam. More than 300 people have died due to the resulting floods. An estimated 73 percent of these are children. The death toll continues to rise even as floodwaters fall back in some areas. The government has decided to move about 80,000 families to temporary camps in an effort to reduce the risk of casualties. More than 3 million people are homeless. Thousands of families are precariously situated in makeshift shelters atop crumbling earthen dikes. The damage to infrastructure is estimated at more than $27 million.

MeKong River floodwaters forced people to seek shelter anywhere they can find it.

Seven provinces in the Mekong River Delta area bore the brunt of the floods: Dong Thap, An Giang, Long An, Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Can Tho and Vinh Long. CARE is providing substantial emergency relief in the provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap and Long An in the southern part of the country. CARE has distributed blankets, water filters and mosquito nets to nearly 200,000 people so far.

"CARE also is seeking funding to provide fishing boats and nets to approximately 18,000 people in Kien Giang province. The boats will help people fish to feed themselves, and enable them to restart earning an income by selling their catch. They can also trade the fish for other goods they may need," said Yvonne Klynman, CARE program coordinator in Vietnam.

More than 3 million people in Vietnam are homeless.

"CARE also hopes to distribute corrugated iron for rebuilding houses to 2,500 families in An Giang and Kien Giang provinces. The loss or damage to their homes is one of the biggest worries for families, because of the high cost of building materials. Most families have been unable to work for many months, because of the floods, and in the meantime, they have used all their savings to feed themselves," said Klynman.

The organization is seeking funds to help get schools and health centers working again.

"CARE has plans to assist with the long-term recovery and security of the affected provinces and districts by providing equipment and training in the use of Geographical Information Systems for flood mapping, in order to lessen the effects of flooding in the future, says Klynman.

Makeshift shelters offer refuge to flood victims.

CARE worked in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 providing food, vocational training and medical programs. CARE returned to Vietnam in May 1990 and received official government recognition in April 1991. CARE has responded to natural disasters in many parts of the country during the last decade. CARE works with local partners in emergency response activities, following through on its programs by monitoring the distribution of its items and evaluating project results. CARE's development projects focus on agriculture and natural resources development, small-enterprise development, health and emergency assistance.

CONTACT: In Vietnam: Yvonne Klynman, (011) 844 831 4155