New Zealand pledges NZ$1 million in typhoon aid for Việt Nam

Flooding at Trí Yên Commune, Yên Dũng District, the northern province of Bắc Giang, following a dyke failure as water level rose on September 13, 2024. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — The New Zealand Government has announced a NZ$1 million contribution to help with Việt Nam’s recovery from the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, according to the statement released on Monday by the New Zealand Embassy.

The aid will be channelled through New Zealand’s NGO disaster response partners active in Việt Nam and United Nations agencies in Việt Nam, focusing on emergency response and livelihood restoration.

In a letter to Việt Nam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn today, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Winston Peters wrote: “The New Zealand Government conveys its deepest condolences to the victims of Typhoon Yagi in Northern Việt Nam. The thoughts of all New Zealanders are with the people affected and the emergency services staff at the forefront of the ongoing response… New Zealand looks forward to leveraging the various strands of our relationship to strengthen Việt Nam’s recovery and future resilience to such catastrophic events”.

New Zealand Ambassador to Việt Nam Caroline Beresford stated that “As a strategic partner of Việt Nam, New Zealand stands in solidarity with the Vietnamese government and people during this extremely challenging time. We hope our support will swiftly reach those in need, contributing to emergency efforts and helping affected communities rebuild their lives.”

Yagi was the most powerful typhoon in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) in the past three decades, and the strongest to hit mainland Việt Nam in 70 years.

The super typhoon and its aftermath have wreaked havoc across 26 localities in the north of Việt Nam.

As of 15 September, 330 people are reported to be dead or missing. Economic damage is estimated to have reached VNĐ40 trillion (US$1.6 billion). — VNS