VIETNAM: Work resumes quickly after the typhoon

In late September typhoon Ketsana struck the provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Tri, leaving in its wake a trail of devastation. Despite the heavy impact on its operations and staff, MAG contributed to the relief effort and resumed clearance operations just a few days afterwards.

Around 500 milimetres of rain fell in 48 hours, causing extensive flooding and damage throughout central Vietnam. Tens of thousands of households were left underwater, with livestock killed and crops washed away or ruined.

MAG in Vietnam

MAG is currently conducting static operations on 16.25 hectares of land in An Xa village, Quang Tri province. The site, which will be used for planting rubber trees after clearance, is three kilometres away from a former U.S military base and was the scene of fighting during the Vietnam War.

MAG teams have so far destroyed 64 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO), benefiting almost 750 people.

With support from the U.S Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, MAG is also currently clearing a 42,500 square metre plantation in Phong Nha village, Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province; adjacent to the Phuong Nha world heritage site.

MAG’s prior operations in the area included clearing land for the construction of the Son Trach Primary School No.4. The teams have destroyed a total of 1,366 items of UXO in this commune.

MAG continues to deploy mobile operations in other affected communes of the two provinces.

When it first became known that Ketsana was approaching, after devastating the Phillippines, MAG suspended field operations so that staff could return to their homes and prepare for the typhoon.

“We were clearing a site in Quang Tri province for rubber trees plantation and another site in Quang Binh province, for planting peanuts and capsicum, when the storm came,” said Ms Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, MAG Vietnam’s Technical Operations Officer.

After the typhoon, some of MAG’s clearance sites were heavily flooded, whilst other were inaccessible. As a result, operations had to be suspended for a few days. This allowed for floodwaters to subside as well as providing time for the community to recover and repair damage.

Immediately after the typhoon MAG made offers of assistance to local authorities in an effort to provide relief support. MAG was able to provide transportation assistance to the Quang Tri authorities to undertake post-disaster assessments. MAG’s partner Global Medic [www.dmgf.org] also donated 180,000 Aquatabs (water sterilisation tablets) for use in flooded communities in Quang Tri and Quang Ngai.

Tens of thousands of households were left underwater, with livestock killed and crops washed away or ruined.

[Photos: MAG Vietnam]

Many MAG staff were also personally affected by the typhoon, particularly those living in Le Thuy District, one of the most heavily flooded districts in Quang Binh. Of the 35 MAG staff living in the district, 31 had their homes flooded by up to a metre of water.

MAG Vietnam’s Technical Operations Manager Tony Fernandes said he was impressed by the resilience of the staff. “I was really astonished at the positive spirit of our staff and their families amidst trying conditions,” he said. “We visited the flooded house of Mr Le The Dung, a Team Supervisor. He greeted us with a warm smile and a promise to return to work.

“We resumed work at the first opportunity after the disaster with the aim of providing more safe land for local people as soon as possible. They’ve lost so much already.”

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