UCAN REPORT: The Church in Vietnam says flood victims in the country are now facing famine and poverty in the wake of the disaster.
Catholic parishes and agencies continue to send relief but are looking ahead to a potential disaster.
Locals are in trouble until the next harvest because recent floods in Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Binh central provinces have washed away their properties and crops, says Bishop Paul Nguyen Thai Hop of Vinh,
“It is necessary to give them financial support to buy seeds for new cultivation,” Bishop Hop said.
The Church has helped repair and rebuild houses with plans to equip parishes with emergency generators, motorboats and rescue vehicles to ensure prompt assistance in the future.
“They are waiting for relief supplies from benefactors,” added Franciscan Father John Baptist Tran Khac Du, who went with benefactors from Ho Chi Minh City to distribute goods to worst-hit parishes Oct. 30-Nov. 4. They gave people rice, instant noodles, bottled water and clothes. The priest added that transferring supplies to remote areas is difficult due to damaged roads.
About 150 people were killed in flooding disasters over the past month. Vietnam regularly suffers from tropical storms and flooding at this time of year.
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