Party, State on people’s side in typhoon response, recovery efforts

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (second from right) visits a force strengthening an important site of the Lo River dyke in Truong Sinh commune of Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province, on September 12. (Photo: VNA)

Facing serious impacts of the most-powerful-in-decades storm, leaders of the Party and State have come to flooding and landslide hotspots in the northern mountainous region to share the losses suffered by locals, offer encouragement to rescue forces, and give on-site directions to local authorities.

Visiting the flood-hit Truong Sinh commune of Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam enquired after evacuees in Phu Tho 1 hamlet. There, he extended deep condolences to the bereaved families and sent sympathies to people on the difficulties and losses they are encountering.

He underlined that in the time ahead, not only Tuyen Quang but also other northern provinces affected by the typhoon need to give the top priority to saving people while viewing the armed forces as the core for comprehensively and strongly implementing all measures, from prevention to rescue and relief delivery.

Keeping a close watch on the super typhoon’s progress, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh continuously issued many dispatches and ordered ministries, sectors, agencies, and localities to focus on coping with Yagi early and from afar. He established delegations led by Deputy PMs to inspect and steer response activities in localities. He also decided to set up a frontline steering committee to give direct instructions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh examines the search for landslide victims in Lang Nu hamlet of Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, on September 12. (Photo: VNA)

On September 12, the Government leader visited Lang Nu hamlet in Phuc Khanh commune of Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, where 37 households were buried under a landslide, leaving 95 dead and missing.

He ordered military, police, health, and other forces coordinate with local authorities to mobilise more personnel and equipment to search for the missing, treat the injured, and hold burial services for the dead.

PM Chinh asked Lao Cai province to zone land and provide accommodation assistance for people who were made homeless by the landslide, and complete the work by December 31 this year.

Shortly after wrapping up an official visit to Russia and chairing the opening of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s 37th session, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man on September 12 visited Thai Nguyen province to examine aftermath settlement.

In Nga My commune – one of the areas hit hardest by flooding in Phu Binh district, he encouraged people to surmount difficulties and join hands with the local administration and forces to deal with storm and flood consequences.

Implementing the directions by the Politburo, the Party General Secretary and State President, the Government, and the PM, the public security force has become a source of support for people.

More than 150,000 police personnel and tens of thousands of equipment have been deployed to assist with storm response, search, rescue, and aftermath settlement. In particular, three officers died while many others sustained injuries, lost their beloved, or saw property damage while performing duties.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man presents gifts to residents in the flood-hit Nga My commune of Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province, on September 12. (Photo: VNA)

To cope with Typhoon Yagi, the military deployed hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers, including regular soldiers, militia, and reservists, together with more than 10,100 vehicles of all types, including over 400 special vehicles, thousands of automobiles and vessels, along with six helicopters.

Military Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the Hanoi Capital Command supported locals to reinforce their houses and evacuate from dangerous areas. The Border Guard High Command ordered the commands in coastal localities from northern Quang Ninh to central Binh Dinh provinces to tighten management over vessels operating at sea, give safety guidance to them, and deal with possible circumstances in a timely manner.

At a ceremony held on September 10 to call for donations to typhoon victims, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien said that in these trying times, Party committees, administrations, and VFF committees at all levels have mobilised thousands of military and police personnel, youth union members, and local residents for helping with evacuation, rescue, and life and asset protection. Some officers and soldiers of the armed forces have even laid down their lives while fulfilling their tasks.

Responding to the appeals by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and the Presidium of the VFF Central Committee, in just a short period of time, a large number of businesses, organisations, individuals, and localities nationwide have registered donations to storm victims.

As of 5pm on September 13, as much as 775.5 billion VND (nearly 31.6 million USD) was sent to the bank account of the central relief mobilisation committee./.