Samaritan’s Purse teams in northwestern Vietnam are distributing much-needed supplies to devastated families after a deadly typhoon tore through the region earlier this summer.
Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in northwestern Vietnam after a devastating typhoon struck the region in late July and continued to bring heavy rainfall into early August.
Typhoon Wipha brought torrential rains and hurricane-force winds to Vietnam’s northern highlands, causing widespread flooding and damage among the lower-income, rural communities of Dien Bien and Nghe An provinces. Considerable precipitation continued through the following week, triggering devastating landslides in the mountainous region. Over a dozen people died in the storm, with several others injured and thousands more displaced.
Samaritan’s Purse staff unloads relief kits to distribute to hurting families in Vietnam.
“The trauma and devastation from last year’s Typhoon Yagi are still fresh in the minds of many and it often resurfaces when a new storm hits,” said Dave Kletzing, the country director for Samaritan’s Purse in Vietnam. “I’m so thankful that God has placed the Samaritan’s Purse team in a position to provide comfort and practical support during challenging times.”
Up steep mountain passes and through mud-entrenched roads, our teams in Vietnam distributed more than 600 relief supply kits to the families hit hardest by Typhoon Wipha. The kits include blankets, mosquito nets, pots and pans, and essential cooking supplies like salt, oil, and condensed milk. A hygiene kit was given to each family as well.
“I am very grateful to Samaritan’s Purse for caring for the people here,” said Ms. Khua, one of our local partners in the area. “Blankets, pots, and pans are gifts that the people really need during this time … because the flood has completely swept them away.”
Help Arrives for the Hurting in Vietnam
Chanh was one mother to lose everything in the storm.
“When I returned home from the fields with my children, my limbs were shaking. I fell down and could only cry,” she said. The storm had collapsed her house and swept away all she owned inside. “There was nothing left,” she said.
Samaritan’s Purse teams arrived to Chanh’s remote community soon after the storm with supplies to help her and her family recover.
“I am grateful that Samaritan’s Purse provided me with blankets and pots so I no longer need to borrow from the neighbors,” the Vietnamese mother said.
Our relief kits give families the basic necessities to cook, clean, and stay safe as they begin the road to recovery.
Lua, another survivor, shared a proverb with our team to express her gratitude. It says: a piece when hungry is worth more than a whole package when full.
“I am very grateful for the gifts from Samaritan’s Purse,” she said. “At night, I sleep without a mosquito net, so this gift is really necessary for me. Thank you very much.”
Beyond just providing relief supplies, Samaritan’s Purse is showing each family in the rural mountains of Vietnam that they are not forgotten and that God loves them.
Please pray for these hurting communities as they continue to recover. Please also pray for Vietnam as it faces another typhoon (Kajiki) now in late August.
The journey to the storm-impacted region in Vietnam is treacherous, but we thank God for the opportunity to help Vietnamese in need.
