Historic Floods hit Central Vietnam. Please help!

Khanh Long is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Donation Tracking Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e6KtLt8I9gPGSrKgqthSRsLnnYyUrR9wvzfjjfmQWCE/edit?usp=sharing

Every year Central Vietnam is hit with serious floods and heavy rainfall due to tropical storm. So often it happens that the people of Vietnam are no longer startled by the news. Deaths of drowned, lost family members and housing damage are just another statistics to add to the yearly record.

Tourists come to Central Vietnam for its historic sightseeing, dreamy scenery, and unique Vietnamese dishes specific to the central heart of the country. But what even more beautiful yet heartbreaking at the same time is the strength and resilience of the locals who accept their fate to live with the extreme weather in this particular region. They often get hit by floods that leave nothing but only remnants of a once poor village, now even poorer. Their lives start from ground zero, again and again. Talk about that level of perseverance these human beings possess.

I have been aware of the challenges Central Vietnam faces for many years but completely unresponsive to the disaster. However, this year Central Vietnam is hit by the most catastrophic tropical storms in the history of coastal flooding in the country. As of 10/20, there have been at least 5 million people affected, including 105 died, 178,000 homes submerged, 7,000 hectares of crop damaged, 690,000 poultry and livestock washed away.

No food, no water, no power, no phone, nothing. Family survivors, even babies and kids climb to the top of their roofs, begging for a chance at life in front of the pouring rain, the cold wind, and the horrid rising water. Many isolated victims scream for help on social media if they're lucky enough to still have mobile data. For many others, they can only hope people would find them.

For days, this raging storm continues to ravage, leaving people continue to suffer. Locals still haven't given a chance to recover from the impacts of storm Linfa and storm Nangka, and now there is already a third storm, Saudel coming to hit Central Vietnam again this weekend. Please keep Vietnam in your prayers.

Some pictures of Vietnam's worst floods in decades:

Road cracked in Quang Binh Province

Livestock business owners face huge challenges ahead.

Premature grain sprouting as a result of high moisture from flood waters causes severe losses for poor farmers to recover from flood damage.

Baby covered in muddy floodwater

Thank you to our brave soldiers for saving these innocent souls.

Nowhere to go. Evacuees seek emergency shelter in their man-made tent.

This man received a rice bowl from rescuers. He cried happy tears because he had not had it in days.

Damaged school. Children cry over their drenched notes.

The after-mass.

Floods took away everything from this family.

This is a market after the water has receded in this region.

Footage of man breaking thru his roof to get out of his flooded home. Cre: FB Quang Binh Hom Nay.

Although I have no friends and family there, my heart squeezes as I realize the continuous suffering of many Central Vietnam residents. We are the same but different. We are proud of our homeland and the natural wonders it offers. Nevertheless, most of us rarely experience natural disasters while people in Central Vietnam suffer crazy losses over and over. And yet they overcome and live on. Every Vietnamese knows it.

I want to help Central Vietnam, but I need you to join with me. All donations will be given to reputable disaster relief organizations and individuals in an effort to help everyone affected with food, clothes, and other necessities at the moment. I will also direct a fair amount to organizations that provide recovery assistance, such as finance to help rebuild houses and businesses, and school supplies for students.

All collections will be directed to:

1. Group Tu Thien Phuoc Hanh: https://www.facebook.com/nhungphuochanh.01

Tu Thien Phuoc Hanh needs funds for 2,000 life jackets, 15,000 cookies, instant noodles, 5000 water bottles (a life necessity but not many organizations willing to provide right now), 400 waders for rescuers, and raincoats to help heavily impacted locals.

2. Singer Thuy Tien: https://www.facebook.com/FcThuyTien

Thuy Tien is a reputable singer in Vietnam known for her charitable contribution to the underserved communities in Vietnam. She has funded many projects to build bridges for poor villages and uplift the most disadvantaged families . Pictures from her recent trip to help out Central Vietnam can be found on her personal Facebook.

3. MC Dai Nghia: https://www.facebook.com/nghia.dai.96

Dai Nghia is a well-rounded actor in Vietnam who has been active in the industry for 20 years. He himself holds many charity events to build bridges, schools, houses, and provide scholarships for economically disadvantaged students in Vietnam. His team is currently on the ground in Central Vietnam to find survivors in the most hidden, isolated towns.

4. Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam huyện A Lưới tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế: http://phatgiaoaluoi.com/

Phật giáo A Lưới is a Hue-based Buddhist monastery guided by Bhadanta Thich Tam Phuong (https://www.facebook.com/ttamphuong), who has been visiting flooded towns and villages, including Huong Thuy town in Central Vietnam to donate rice, instant noodles, and other groceries to local residents.

5. Blue Dragon Children's Foundation: https://www.bluedragon.org/

A non-governmental organization that helps and cares for at-risk families around Vietnam, including street orphans and human trafficking victims. They are well-established and have been helping hundreds of Vietnamese from poverty and corruptive social activities since 2003. Their staffs and volunteers are working in the flooded regions to rescue and provide supplies for these poor villagers. You can donate directly to their foundation here https://www.bluedragon.org/donate/

Every one of us can show Mien Trung (Central Vietnam) that we are here to support them. If you are able, I hope you will donate. Every nickel helps. Thank you for your contribution.

Use #huongvemientrung (means Attention to Central Vietnam) for your Vietnam flood related posts so we can reach more international friends.