In the wake of Typhoon Damrey, Samaritan's Purse brought help in Jesus' Name.
Smiles stretched ear to ear this week as thousands of Typhoon Damrey survivors received relief items, sent by Samaritan’s Purse and distributed by local partners throughout five provinces surrounding Da Nang. The persistent rain that continues to fall even after the typhoon has long passed is adding to the already flooded streets and fields of central Vietnam, but it hasn’t been able to dampen the spirits of the people living there.
Thousands of storm survivors received much need emergency supplies.
Nearly 100 metric tons of supplies, including heavy-duty shelter plastic, kitchen items, hygiene items, jerry cans, and blankets were airlifted into the country on Friday, Nov. 24. Teams of Samaritan’s Purse staff have seen great joy in recipient’s faces as our partners work to distribute the supplies to families with the most need.
“We are very excited for the gift,” said Trung Thanh Phan, as he admired the new stainless steel pots, dishes, and utensils he and his wife, Ha, received Nov. 28. “This is the first time we received assistance after the flood.”
Persistent rain throughout the month has made the flooding and damage worse after Typhoon Damrey passed through the area.
Trung and his wife were one family of 100 from Hanh Thien commune who received a kitchen kit, hygiene kit, and jerry can.
Residents came by bicycle and motorbike from their villages dotted along the Song Ve River. Many neighbors joined forces, loaning carts and motorbikes to help each other haul their items home.
Typhoon Damrey, the strongest storm in 20 years to hit central Vietnam, made landfall on November 4. Floods quickly rose and drenched many homes, in some areas rising as high as 12 feet. Livestock and livelihoods were washed away. In many areas, constant rain has caused more flooding.
Trung Thanh Phan and his wife Ha received shelter and kitchen supplies from our teams.
“The water rose twice,” said Trung “We only moved what we could. We couldn’t save everything.”
Trung’s family lost their pigs and chickens to the water, which rose to about three feet inside their one-story cement home.
They were able to find safety on a high bridge that leads into their community in Quang Ngai province, along with about 100 other people and larger livestock, such as cows. For two days and nights they waited on the bridge without shelter and had only dry noodles to eat.
They returned to find their home full of mud. It took several days to shovel out. A carpenter and rice farmer by trade, Trung also lost a lot of wood that he used in his business.
“We slowly work and try to recover, but we don’t have anywhere else to go so we just stay here and accept it,” Trung said, describing how they deal with similar flooding year after year.
We supplied Ngoan Thi Phung and her family with heavy duty shelter plastic, kitchen kits, hygiene items, and other essentials.
The items airlifted by Samaritan’s Purse encouraged the couple, who said they haven’t seen many relief organizations send support to the area in the past.
“We truly appreciate you coming, and from deep down in my heart I want to say thank you,” Trung said.
Please continue to pray for the people of central Vietnam as they recover from these devastating floods. Please also pray for our staff as they extend the love of God by meeting physical needs.
Update: Our distributions were completed on Nov. 30.
Survivors of Typhoon Damrey wait in line for supplies from Samaritan's Purse in Vietnam.
