MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Smith
Australia will provide $1 million assistance to the Vietnam Red Cross and Australian Non-Government Organisations active in Vietnam in response to the tragic loss of life and destruction caused by Typhoon Ketsana.
The assistance package is made up of $400,000 for the Vietnam Red Cross to provide water treatment items, mosquito nets, cooking utensils and blankets, and $600,000 for Australian NGOs who are already in Vietnam. The NGOs are providing essential food and other emergency relief supplies in adversely affected parts of the country.
After wreaking havoc in the Philippines, Typhoon Ketsana moved into Vietnam where it caused over 90 deaths. Nineteen people remain missing.
Almost 170,000 people were evacuated from affected areas and there has been significant damage to housing, public infrastructure and agricultural production with about 14,000 hectares of autumn rice fields destroyed.
Australia has extended its condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam for their loss.