International partners are ready to support Vietnam in overcoming the aftermath of storms and floods.
WHO provides more than 850,000 water purification tablets
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed emergency support, providing 852,000 purified water tablets to provinces severely affected by Typhoon No. 10.
In recent days, prolonged heavy rain has caused deep flooding in many areas in the North and Central regions of Vietnam, cutting off traffic and forcing many medical facilities to temporarily suspend operations.
Facing the risk of a shortage of clean water and the outbreak of epidemics, WHO has delivered to Vietnam 852,000 purified water tablets, equivalent to about 13 million liters of clean water, together with 900 large-capacity water bags to be promptly distributed to Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and Ninh Binh provinces.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep and Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis co-chaired the discussion session with embassies and international organizations on the afternoon of October 9, 2025. Photo: Diep Anh.On the official Facebook page of WHO in Vietnam, it is written: “This clean water source will help medical facilities maintain operations, while ensuring that people have clean and safe water to use while waiting for water supply systems to be restored.
WHO deeply shares with the great losses and hardships that people in the affected areas are suffering. We are committed to continuing to accompany the Government and people of Vietnam in post-storm recovery efforts in any way we can”.
This clean water is being delivered to district-level medical facilities, commune health stations, and households isolated by floods.
Health experts warn that after floods, contaminated water sources can increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks such as cholera, typhoid, or hepatitis A. Therefore, the provision of clean water not only carries humanitarian significance but also helps prevent disease risks and protect public health during the post-disaster recovery phase.
Five priority proposals from the United Nations
On the afternoon of October 9, the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) held a meeting to share information on the flood situation after the storm and to develop a plan for rapid damage assessment and reconstruction needs.
On behalf of the United Nations in Vietnam, Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis extended her deep condolences to families of those who lost loved ones and to localities suffering heavy damage in many provinces.
According to her, the United Nations has always accompanied Vietnam in early prevention efforts and in strengthening response capacity. However, during the restructuring process, some facilities and previous disaster-response experiences were interrupted, raising the question of how to cooperate more effectively with communities, especially vulnerable groups.
The United Nations is committed to mobilizing resources in line with the Government’s priorities and implementing rapid actions to meet urgent needs, in which UNICEF, WHO, and IOM are the main coordinating agencies. “We will also continue to draw lessons from the response to Typhoon Yagi to improve coordination efficiency in the future,” she said.
According to Ms. Pauline, first, Relief efforts need strong leadership from the Government, especially from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and local authorities. Second, There must be clear communication channels and effective coordination mechanisms among stakeholders.
Third, within the DRRP framework, information on resource mobilization must be regularly updated, especially through platforms such as Zalo at provincial and remote area levels, and information management and infrastructure capacity must be strengthened. Fourth, a joint response plan between the United Nations and partners should be developed, based on the priorities of each sector such as agriculture, health, education, and clean water, to ensure coordinated action.
Finally, from the experience of responding to Typhoon Yagi, the United Nations wishes to listen to the voices of people and to improve the procurement and distribution of essential goods through strengthened coordination with the Vietnam Disaster and Dike Management Authority (VDDMA).
“Let’s promote the power of this partnership to create real change in the lives of those affected by floods. We can respond effectively, build resilience, and support communities in recovery”, she affirmed.
Representatives of international organizations, embassies, and relief agencies contributed to the rapid response plan. According to Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, post-disaster emergencies once again remind us of the importance of investing in disaster preparedness and response, as well as in mitigation and resilience building.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that the Vietnamese Government will soon introduce policies and mechanisms for recovery and reconstruction after the historic Typhoons No. 10 and 11.
“Children must be able to return to school, health stations must be quickly restored, and public offices must resume operations to serve as anchors for the people”, said the Deputy Minister. The Ministry’s leader directed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment establish three field survey missions in storm and flood-affected areas: Tuyen Quang - Phu Tho, Cao Bang - Lang Son, and Bac Ninh - Thai Nguyen. He called on international organizations to send representatives along these routes, participate in surveys, and provide needs-assessment results by early next week.
The Ministry hopes for the highest level of cooperation and support. In the immediate term, focus will be placed on essential items, food and water, materials and tools for house repairs, disinfectants, and supplies and equipment to restore livelihoods, crops, and production toward the year’s end.