Source: UNICEF
In September 2024, Typhoon Yagi, one of Viet Nam's most severe storms in recent decades, caused extensive damage across 26 provinces, claiming 345 lives, displacing over 120,000 families, damaging more than 800 health-care facilities and affecting 3.6 million people. High winds, floods and landslides disrupted or destroyed critical infrastructure including roads, health-care facilities and communications.
To coordinate UN assistance for the Government’s response, UN agencies and development partners launched an Australian Government funded joint response plan to support humanitarian needs and early recovery until June 2025. It focussed on the most vulnerable people – those who are poor or near poor, pregnant and breastfeeding women, ethnic minority communities, children, older persons, people with disability and displaced people, and in particular, people in the hardest-hit provinces of Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai.
From 3 to 4 June, the UN agencies and partners, along with Ministry of Health officials, visited remote, highland Bat Xat District, to monitor how aid delivered under the UN plan has helped the community, which is mostly from the Hmong ethnic minority.
On the visit are representatives of UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Australian Embassy in Ha Noi, which has provided critical funding support to UN agencies as part of recovery efforts.
Together, they listened to community voices, saw how services are being restored, and renewed their commitment to standing with communities on the long road to recovery — where dignity, inclusion and resilience lead the way.
Deputy Ambassador of the Australia Embassy Ms Renee Deschamps said, “Australia is proud to have responded swiftly to Viet Nam’s request for assistance, providing AUD 4 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by Typhoon Yagi. Our focus is on helping the most vulnerable — women, children, ethnic minorities, and people living with disabilities. We are committed to supporting a sustainable recovery,
so the communities can rebuild not just their homes, but also their livelihoods, health, and futures.”
UN Women Representative Mrs Caroline Nyamayemombe said, “Due to gender-specific barriers and inequalities, women are often disproportionately affected by disasters — facing higher risks of losing lives and livelihoods, and experiencing longer recovery periods. In response, UN Women, in partnership with the Women's Union in Lao Cai, has supported women-led preparedness and recovery efforts, including the provision of gender-responsive cash assistance and livelihood recovery support to 600 households across four communes. In parallel, 12 safe spaces were established to support the psychological recovery and protection of women and girls in areas affected by Typhoon Yagi and other climate-related disasters. Through this integrated approach — combining financial support, technical assistance, and community-based resilience building — we aim to strengthen women’s leadership in disaster recovery and ensure no one is left behind.”
UNFPA Representative Mr Matt Jackson said, “In the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, it is the most vulnerable — women, girls, the elderly and persons with disabilities — who bear the greatest burden. UNFPA stands with the Government of Viet Nam and our partners to ensure that sexual and reproductive health services, protection from gender-based violence and the preservation of personal dignity are never side-lined in times of crisis. Recovery must be inclusive, rights-based and centred on the people who need support the most.”
UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Nguyen Thi Duyen said, “As we witness the impacts of our support in recovering and strengthening essential services for children and families affected by the typhoon, we must acknowledge that this achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable support of partners like the Australian Government. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all partners who have supported our response and continue to bolster our long-term efforts, focused on strengthening disaster prevention and climate resilience. These efforts are crucial to ensuring every child is protected against the impacts of climate disasters.”
WHO Representative Dr Angela Pratt said, “It is great to see for ourselves how WHO’s assistance is part of the restoration of essential health services and ongoing monitoring for potential disease outbreaks. This visit helped us better understand the community’s health needs, which we are keen to support in any way we can. We are also focussed on helping enhance the resilience of health-care facilities, as climate change is sure to bring more extreme weather in the future.”
Deputy Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee Mr Hoang Quoc Khanh said, "I believe that the support by UN agencies, UN Women, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA is very practical, contributing to helping people stabilize their lives after the storm and flood, and recover their livelihoods. From the local government, we are committed to continuing to effectively implement the projects and programs.”
UN agencies will use lessons from this visit to hone multi-sector assistance to the Government and people of Viet Nam in future emergencies./.