Communities in southern Vietnam are bracing for heavy rains and powerful winds this Christmas Day, when Cyclone Tembin is expected to make landfall in the very south of the country.
Tembin, currently a category one cyclone with winds gusting up to 148km/h is expected to weaken slightly to 135km/h before making landfall to Vietnam, as reported by Meteorological Department of Vietnam.
Meanwhile reports of collapsed homes, deadly landslides and flash flooding have emerged after Tembin, then a tropical storm, swept across the southern Philippines island of Mindanao on Friday.
Save the Children’s Country Director in the Philippines, Ned Olney said, “This is one of the most devastating storms to hit Mindanao in recent years, with extensive flooding right across the island. Homes have been washed away, bridges and other infrastructure damaged, hundreds of lives lost and more than 1.4 million people affected.
“Many families still cut off from basic services like health facilities, markets, schools and other community facilities. Making matters worse, many of those impacted were already displaced from the conflict in Marawi.”
Save the Children has committed to respond to the disaster in Mindanao.
Meanwhile Save the Children’s Country Director in Vietnam, Dragana Strinic warned families in the south of the country to take every measure to be ready for the storm.
“Make no mistake the humanitarian concerns are significant in southern Vietnam and those living in coastal and low-lying communities in southern Vietnam need to be particularly prepared,” she said.
“We’re expecting extremely heavy rains, potential flash flooding as well as strong winds. This combination could cause major damage to homes and infrastructure.
“It should be a happy time of year with the festive season upon us, but instead families in are having to take stock and prepare their homes for a major storm.”
Save the Children stands ready to respond in Vietnam if requested by the government, and has stockpiles of aid including household kits and water filters.
The Government of Vietnam has already been supporting families to strengthen their houses and schools, established evacuation centers where needed, and has commenced some distributions of food, medicine, fresh water and clothes in high risk areas before the typhoon hits.
“Save the Children staff are ready and waiting to deploy to the affected area as requested by the government, depending on the severity and impact of the storm,” Ms Strinic said.
“Save the Children has a long history responding to humanitarian emergencies in Vietnam and across the Asia region, and we will do so again if required.”
ENDS
Save the Children has spokespeople available in Vietnam and the Philippines. For interview requests contact Jessica Bryant on 647-973-1185
Media Contact
For additional information please contact Jessica Bryant Senior Manager, Communications, Media & Public Relations:
About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.