Nearly 1 million people are already struggling with the impact of severe flooding across central Vietnam as a third tropical storm – Saudel – is predicted to make landfall this Sunday. The aid agency CARE is particularly worried about the impact on women and girls, and those already struggling with the economic impacts of COVID-19.

CARE Vietnam Country Director Le Kim Dung says: “We are very worried that the situation for people in flood-affected areas is likely to get even worse. While we are still unclear what the impact of this latest storm will be, what we do know is that it is likely to hit a population already struggling from flood destruction and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The current water levels have started to go down and people are returning to their homes to assess the damage and salvage what they can. CARE will be focussing on water, sanitation and hygiene support, especially focussing on hygiene kits and also cash support focussing on some of the most vulnerable, such as women and girls.”

Asia’s monsoon seasons have been unusually heavy this year, forcing millions to evacuate and killing hundreds in parts of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has noted that changes in climate will have a range of negative impacts on human health, security, livelihoods, and poverty.

CARE Vietnam Climate Change Adviser Yen Thi Nguyen says: “The changes in the region, such as later start to the monsoon season are all worrying indications of the impacts of climate change across Asia Pacific, and wider. CARE is calling on developed countries to explore new sources of finance – up to US $50 billion to address the increasing loss and damage from climate impacts, as seen in Vietnam and more globally this year.”

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