The implementation of phase II of the project not only reflects compassion and responsibility towards the community, but also creates an important foundation to help local people recover production, strengthen community disaster-response capacity and move towards sustainable development.
Putting people at the centre
Storm No. 3 (Yagi) and the post-storm circulation in 2024 caused particularly severe consequences for many provinces in the northern midland and mountainous regions. Prolonged heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides and widespread flooding disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of households; homes were swept away, crops were inundated, and many clean-water systems, sanitation facilities and essential infrastructure suffered serious damage.
Based on the scale of the damage and the urgent needs of residents in storm-affected areas, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society launched phase II of the project titled “Emergency appeal to address the consequences, response, recovery and reconstruction after storm No. 3 and post-storm circulation in 2024” (implemented until March 31, 2026). The project is funded through non-refundable aid from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, aiming to continue assisting people in overcoming storm-related losses and strengthening community resilience.
The project focuses on supporting approximately 35,000 people in six provinces: Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen, with a total budget of more than 23 billion VND (877,200 USD). These provinces suffered heavy damage from storm No. 3 and its aftermath, with high rates of poor and near-poor households, severely damaged basic infrastructure and significant difficulties for residents attempting to recover after the disaster.
The project forms an important part of the large-scale post-disaster recovery plan of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society. It demonstrates the organisation’s central and coordinating role as the national humanitarian body in connecting international resources with practical needs at the grassroots level, ensuring that support reaches the right beneficiaries at the right time and according to actual needs.
Unlike conventional charitable activities, the project’s interventions are designed in a multi-sectoral manner closely linked to the practical needs of local residents. These include conditional cash assistance to support the purchase of breeding stock, seedlings, animal feed, fertilisers and the repair of livestock facilities to improve household livelihoods; conditional cash support for building new toilets and purchasing water tanks to enhance sanitation conditions for beneficiary households; communication activities on clean water, sanitation and disease prevention in emergency situations to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and disease vectors; and capacity-building training for Red Cross branches, response forces, local authorities and communities on disaster prevention and risk reduction, as well as initial psychological first aid.
The project not only aims to “compensate for immediate losses” but, more importantly, to provide people with a foundation from which they can stand up again after disasters, restore livelihoods, improve living conditions and prepare for the future.
Steady reconstruction after the storm
Once the project was implemented, timely support aligned with real needs helped local residents gradually overcome the most difficult period. Livelihood models have been restored, clean water sources improved and homes repaired. Communication campaigns and training sessions have helped residents enhance their awareness of hygiene, health and risk prevention—each activity carrying a message of solidarity and companionship to support communities in stabilising their lives.
One of the households receiving cash assistance from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, Phung Van Mau of Phuong Tien Commune in Thai Nguyen Province, said storm No. 3 in 2024 was extremely severe, with prolonged heavy rain, rising floodwaters and strong winds causing major damage to many households in the village, from rice fields and crops to houses. His family’s fields and garden were also buried under thick layers of mud and soil.
“Immediately after the storm, local authorities and Red Cross branches promptly came to visit, assess the damage and compile reports to propose support for residents. My family is grateful to the Party, the authorities and the Red Cross at all levels for their attention and assistance, which has helped us partially overcome the losses caused by the disaster. I will use this support to buy breeding stock and animal feed, continue developing our household economy and gradually stabilise our lives,” Mau shared.
At a recent support distribution event, Nguyen Thi Thom from Tay Yen Tu Town in Bac Ninh Province expressed her joy: “With this support, I will purchase seedlings and expand livestock farming to soon restore production and stabilise my family’s economic situation. I am very happy and grateful to the Viet Nam Red Cross Society for its timely support for people who suffered heavy losses from storm No. 3.”
After a period of implementation, life in storm- and flood-affected communities has gradually stabilised. Livelihoods have been restored, living environments have become safer and, importantly, people’s trust in the support of humanitarian organisations and local authorities has been strengthened.
Spreading humanitarian values
Phase II of the project “Emergency appeal to address the consequences, response, recovery and reconstruction after storm No. 3 and post-storm circulation in 2024” carries not only material significance but also spreads profound humanitarian values, a spirit of solidarity and a sense of community responsibility. The partnership of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, together with the coordinating role of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, has helped create a systematic, sustainable and people-centred model of post-disaster recovery support.
La Thi Hue, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Phuong Tien Commune in Thai Nguyen Province, said that the livelihood support project implemented by the Viet Nam Red Cross Society has been extremely practical for the locality, particularly for households affected by natural disasters. Thanks to timely assistance, many households have quickly regained the conditions necessary to restore production, rebuild livelihoods and gradually stabilise their lives.
On behalf of the leadership of the commune’s People’s Committee and the residents of Phuong Tien, La Thi Hue expressed sincere gratitude to the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Red Cross and partner organisations and sponsors for their support in helping the locality overcome the consequences of the storm and floods. She also expressed hope that in the future the locality would continue to receive the attention and cooperation of Red Cross organisations at all levels in humanitarian programmes and projects, contributing to improving the living standards of local people.
From lands that once “bent under the weight” of storms and floods, confidence is being rekindled and hope is taking root—an essential foundation for localities and communities to move forward firmly on the path of reconstruction and sustainable development.
