As Vietnam faces floods and heavy rains, Caritas is focusing its aid effort on the worst affected areas of Quang Nam and Binh Dinh following Typhoon Ketsana.

The typhoon has left over 2000 households in need of help, thousands of hectares of agricultural land damaged and roads blocked.

Over 100 people have been killed as a result of the typhoon, which struck on 29th September. Around 600,000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Caritas is currently assessing the immediate emergency needs of the people affected. Once the initial emergency is over, Caritas will focus on helping people rebuild their homes and livelihoods by providing materials.

Typhoon (Tropical Storm) Ketsana battered the Philippines before moving on to Vietnam, submerging large parts of Manila and leaving hundreds of thousands of people in need of help. The storm has now moved on to Laos.

Caritas is very familiar with the worst-affected areas as it ran health and education projects for communities there before the storm struck.

When massive flooding occurs, apart from the trauma to the population and the damage caused, there is also the risk of water-borne diseases if strict hygiene rules are not adhered to.

Even though river levels in Vietnam are now receding, two more storms have built up over the Pacific Ocean.

Please contact Michelle Hough on +39 06 69879721/+39 334 2344136 or hough@caritas.va