SOCIAL IN BRIEF 6/10

Oct 06, 2009
Posted at: VNN

Storm death toll hits 163 as new typhoon looms
Flood stricken areas in central Vietnam that are still engaged in clean-up efforts after storm Ketsana wreaked havoc in the area last week are again threatened with another typhoon currently churning its way across the northern end of the Philippines’ Luzon island.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, Typhoon Parma made landfall on October 4 and has become the tenth typhoon in the region this year.

At 4pm on October 4 the eye of Typhoon Parma was 19.3 north latitude and 119.8 east longitude, about 890km away from the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos. Strong wind speeds were recorded at 103kph, with gusts up to 230kph.

Earlier, a committee official announced that storm Ketsana has left 163 Vietnamese dead, 616 injured and 17 still missing, destroyed 21,429 houses and blew the roofs off 258,306 others. Flooding has also damaged 5,280 classrooms, 12,604 clinics and some Communal People’s Committee offices.

Up to 35,741ha of rice and 44,013ha of cereal crops have been inundated and a large number of roads and bridges have been damaged.

The Central Highland and central provinces are concentrating efforts to overcome the aftermath of the disaster with priority given to looking for the missing, providing food and medicine to flood victims, repairing damaged roads and restoring traffic to the isolated areas.

Floods spark epidemics in central
Vietnam The number of hospitalized patients with flu, diarrhoea, and eye infections has increased tenfold in central Vietnam over the past several days after typhoon Ketsana hit the region.

Many skin diseases such as scabies are also spreading rapidly.

The local people and relevant agencies have collected rubbish and cleaned up the environment following the floods. However, these efforts seem to be less effective than expected because many places are still deep under water and the death of cattle and poultry in the floodwater is causing serious pollution.

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue is in dire need of clean water as 98 percent of its wells have been submerged, sparking various epidemics, including hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Meanwhile, the provincial Quang Ngai Preventive Medical Centre has treated 35,000 out of more than 51,000 submerged wells. The province dispatched medical teams to treat the local inhabitants and provide clinics with disinfectant.

Vietnam to attract more visitors from Britain
The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has launched a campaign called “Charming Vietnam” in London to promote foreigners to visit the country. Cabs, carrying images of Vietnam’s world heritage site Ha Long Bay, Vietnamese girls in white Ao Dai (long dresses) and information about Vietnam’s economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City, will be seen in the streets of the UK’s capital city over a six-month period.

Speaking at the recent launch ceremony, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, Tran Quang Hoan, said he hoped that this type of advertising would attract residents in London to visit Vietnam.

Advertising by taxi has been used by many other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to promoting their tourist industries.

BIDV’s affiliate helps Cambodian storm victims
The Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC), an affiliate to the Vietnam Bank for Investment and Development (BIDV), has presented gifts worth US$45,000 to support victims of storm Ketsana in Cambodia.

The Chairwoman of the Cambodian Red Cross, Bun Rany, thanked BIDC for its relief, saying it was a manifestation of humanity of the Vietnamese people in general and of Vietnamese businesses in particular.

Bun Rany said the relief would be transferred to storm-hit provinces of Preah Vihear, Rattana Kiri, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom.

Caodaists host annual grand banquet More than 100,000 Caodai pilgrims flocked to the Caodai Church in the southern province of Tay Ninh on Oct. 3 for their annual grand banquet at the Dieu Tri Palace.

The annual banquet, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month to offer tributes to the Great Mother and the nine Goddesses of the Dieu Tri Palace, saw Caodaists nationwide converge to pray for propitious weather, prosperity and peace.

Addressing the event, Monsignor Thuong Tam Thanh, Head of the Executive Council of the Tay Ninh Caodai sect, said Caodai followers actively participate in humanitarian programmes to assist poor families, and other social activities.

He called on Caodai followers to continue to uphold solidarity and promote the religion’s moral principles.

Children raise voices against violence
Four Vietnamese children have joined their peers from several Asian countries in an international festival held by Plan Asia in Bangkok, Thailand.

The advisor to the Thai Prime Minister, Apirak Kosayodhin, opened the event on Oct. 3, stressing that it would be an opportunity for children to raise their voice through communications products, creating peaceful environment around them.

The Vietnamese children from Little Reporters clubs in Quang Binh and Phu Tho provinces brought seven short films to the festival, along with 10 pictures, two video clips and a collection of stories about controlling physical and spiritual violence against children.

Myrna Evora, Regional Director of Plan Asia, emphasized the role of communications in connecting people. She said communication media made by children contributed a voice in the fight against the violence towards children.

The festival displays communication media and art works by 80 children from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The festival is also a place for children to introduce their countries’ culture and share their views on children’s rights and how to protect themselves from violence.
PV