17/10/2013 - The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) is deploying two humanitarian experts to make an assessment of the needs in view of the floods in Cambodia and central Vietnam. They will join colleagues from humanitarian organisations who are coordinating their efforts to identify humanitarian aid needs in both countries.
According to the information provided by government agencies and ECHO partner organisations in Cambodia, over 600 000 people have been affected so far and 134 died. Over 840 schools, 50 health centers and hospitals have also been damaged by the rising waters. The floods have been caused by strong monsoon rains and typhoons which have recently blown in from the South China Sea. Local authorities are trying to provide assistance to over 13 000 households which had to be evacuated. Those efforts are being hampered due to roads and bridges having been damaged by the rising torrents.
Vietnam is also experiencing unusually strong monsoon rains made worse by the Typhoon NARI which hit the central provinces this week, causing floods and landslides.
In Lao PDR, ECHO is already committing €166 275 through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the Lao Red Cross enabling it to provide immediate assistance to 10 000 beneficiaries (2 000 families) following severe floods in southern provinces of the country. Flood victims will primarily receive food and essential preventative healthcare.
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