In 2000, Mekong River floods was the worst in 40 years. In Vietnam, floods in the Mekong Delta had affected more than 376,300 homes; 13 people had been killed thus far; and thousands of hectares of rice crops had been destroyed. In Cambodia, over 600,000 people had been affected; at least 94 people had been killed; large areas of farmland had also been destroyed; and rising waters threaten to submerge Phnom Penh. Mekong River tributaries in Vietnam had been steadily rising about 1.5 inches per day; water levels in the Tien and Hau Rivers were now higher than the peak water levels in the historic 1978 floods. Cambodia put its capital Phnom Penh, home to more than a million people, on alert on 13 Sept as weather forecasters warned the Mekong River could flood the city within a few days.
This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding This is provided as a service of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC), the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), and the Center Of Excellence (COE) for Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Prepared on: on 08 September 2000 Last Updated: On 15 September 2000 1 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding Executive Summary 1. Assessment: This years Mekong River floods are the worst in 40 years. In Vietnam, floods in the Mekong Delta have affected more than 376,300 homes; 13 people have been killed thus far; and thousands of hectares of rice crops have been destroyed. In Cambodia, over 600,000 people have been affected; at least 94 people have been killed; large areas of farmland have also been destroyed; and rising waters threaten to submerge Phnom Penh. Mekong River tributaries in Vietnam have been steadily rising about 1.5 inches per day; water levels in the Tien and Hau Rivers are now higher than the peak water levels in the historic 1978 floods. Cambodia put its capital Phnom Penh, home to more than a million people, on alert on 13 Sept as weather forecasters warned the Mekong River could flood the city within a few days. 2. Background: Following the southwest monsoon rains in mid-July, much earlier than normal, the usual Mekong flood season has started. In Vietnam, more than 12,000 soldiers have been helping local people to harvest rice and reinforce embankments, but authorities fear the severe floods could lead to food shortages and disease. Ten of thousands of Vietnamese are being evacuated from the Provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang and Long An. In Cambodia, more than 2,000 police have been called in to help prevent serious flooding on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, as waters continue to rise. Riverbanks in and around the capital are being fortified with sandbags and some outer areas of the capital have already been flooded. A state of emergency has been declared in the Cambodian capital and in the Provinces of Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham along the Mekong River. Phnom Penh has requested international assistance and is receiving aid from UN agencies and the Red Cross. The Vietnamese government granted VND 32 billion (about 23 million USD) in flood relief to the four worst hit provinces in the Mekong Delta, and the Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC) is distributing emergency aid. The International Red Cross (IRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have launched emergency aid appeals for Vietnamese and Cambodian flood victims. 3. Discussion: The Mekong River, the 10th longest in the world, flows by about 50 million people in six nations. The Mekong River begins its path in the forested mountains and uplands of southwestern China and flows 4,200 kilometers to the South China Sea passing through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In Southwest China, it’s called the Lancang Jiang (Turbulent River). In Thailand and Laos, it’s called the Mae Nam Khong (Mother of Waters). In Cambodia, it’s called the Tonle Thom (Great Water). And in Vietnam, where it spills into the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam), it’s called the Cuu Long (River of Nine Dragons). 4. Prepared on: 15 September 2000 2 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding Table of Contents DAMAGE ASSESSMENT 4 Vietnam 4 Cambodia 6 DEATH TOLL 10 Vietnam 10 Cambodia 11 FORECAST 13 Vietnam 13 Cambodia 16 RELIEF EFFORTS 19 Vietnam 19 Cambodia 21 INTERNATIONAL AID 22 Vietnam 22 List of Humanitarian Agencies in Vietnam 23 Cambodia 37 List of Humanitarian Agencies in Cambodia 38 3 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Vietnam 9/15/00 – Record flooding in southern Vietnam has transformed rice paddies and rural communities into "desolate lakes," the Red Cross said Friday. Hundreds of families are living in makeshift shanties crammed onto earthen dikes or along rural roads the only "high ground" for miles around, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Vietnam said in a report. "As far as the eye can see, all you see are the roofs of houses and eucalyptus trees," said John Geoghegan, head of the relief group in Vietnam, who made surveying trips earlier this week. "From time to time, you come across dikes with 200-300 families living on them, slowly crumbling." In Vietnam, steadily rising floodwaters in the Mekong Delta have forced more than 25,000 families from their homes, leaving them with a critical shortage of food, water and shelter, government officials and relief workers said Friday. Officials from the provinces of An Giang, Long An and Dong Thap said 184,000 homes have been flooded. http://cnn.com 9/15/00 - The fast rising floodwaters have rendered the halt of operations by 370 schools in Dong Thap Province. By Sept. 13, nearly 30,200 houses in the province had been submerged and 12,065 families had to move to higher places. More than 11,400 families are in need of food supplies. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/Readnewse.asp?FileN=frav1409.014 9/14/00 - Flood Hit Mekong Delta Photo the Phu Cuong Primary School in Tam Nong district submerged by the flood. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp 9/14/00 - The natural disaster totally damaged 8,000 ha of rice and caused a drop of up to 40 percent in rice yields to more than 27,000 other hectares. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp 9/13/00 - Domestic emergency aid has begun to arrive at An Giang, Dong Thap and Long An, provinces hardest hit by the flooding of the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta). The Long An province alone has 376,300 homes affected by flooding. Of them, 11,000 were evacuated to safe place, and 8,000 others are moving. The local administration has supplied 10,000 tons of rice and 4 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. fishing gear to help people in upper-reach areas heavily hit by flooding overcome the aftermath. An estimated 4,200 poor local families have been reportedly affected by food crop failure and are in need of assistance. The province reported losses of more than VND 108 billion (USD 7.2 million), mostly crop losses. The Vietnam Red Cross Association has sent VND 330 million as relief aid to flood-stricken areas. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp 9/13/00 - Flood Hit Mekong Delta Photo Houses An Tam Nong township, Dong Thap provinces submerged by the flood. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp Photo Houses an Hong Ngu township, Dong Thap provinces submerged by the flood. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/ReadPicturee.asp 9/11/00 - It is feared that significant floods in Cambodia and Laos could mean water levels in southern Vietnam will rise to dangerously high levels. The Vietnamese official news agency said that it is forecast that some rivers will be higher than they were in 1978 when major floods caused huge damage and killed hundreds of people. Western aid officials say that considerable development work has taken place in the Mekong Delta since then and it is not yet clear how much damage high waters levels would do. Thousands of families have already been evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia- pacific/newsid_919000/919808.stm 9/8/00 – Floods in Vietnam's Mekong Delta have inundated the homes of more than 28,500 people, forcing evacuation, official media reported on Friday. Flooding in the Delta Province of An Giang on the border with Cambodia. Neighboring Long An and Dong Thap Provinces had also been hit. 5 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. http://my.cnn.com/jbcl/cnews/Go? template=qm&summary=off&type=word&query=cambodia&uid=968437065156 9/8/00 - Floods, storms and whirlwinds that have swept An Giang Province since Aug. 24 have flattened or damaged nearly 1,650 houses. Meanwhile, floods in Long An Province have completely ruined 14,000 ha of summer-autumn rice and halted the studies of 30,000 pupils. A shower and accompanying whirlwind in Chau Thanh district of Tra Vinh southern province destroyed 36 houses and five classrooms on Sept. 5. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/Readnewse.asp?FileN=frav0809.005 9/8/00 - On September 4, flood waters swept away a bridge spanning Thống Nhất Canal on the section of Highway 30 linking Hồng Ngự District and Tân Hồng District. In Đồng Tháp Province, many sections of road have been under water for three days. These include the section linking the districts of Tam Nông and Tân Hồng, the Highway 30 section from Sa Rài Township to Dinh Bà Border Gate and many other inter-commune roads. http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2000-09/07/Stories/06.htm 8/1/00 – Disaster relief officials in Vietnam say flooding in the Mekong Delta, in the country's important southern rice-growing region, is the worst in forty years. At least three people have been killed and thousands of hectares of rice crops have been destroyed by the floods, and weather forecasts indicate water levels could rise even further in the next ten days. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_861000/861684.stm Cambodia Flood Waters Threaten Cambodian Capital http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_916000/916170.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_924000/924088.stm 9/15/00 - An earlier report from the country's official disaster team said 1.2 million people in 13 provinces have been affected, with nearly 30,000 people evacuated and 99,000 homes flooded, including 1,700 that had been destroyed. The report, dated Thursday, said 94 people had died since July because of flooding. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 6 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Societies in Cambodia estimated Thursday that 500,000 people "are in need of emergency assistance, including clothing, food, sheets of plastic and blankets." http://cnn.com 9/14/00 - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed for help on Thursday as he visited the affected areas. He said it was the most serious flood in more than 70 years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_924000/924088.stm 9/13/00 - The government had distributed more than 350,000 sandbags in Phnom Penh and the surrounding provinces and had another one million ready for distribution. Heavy rains have caused widespread floods across Cambodia since July, nearly two months earlier than they usually do. The floods have already affected more than 600,000 people, said Peou Samy, secretary-general of the National Committee on Disaster Management. He said damage to crops alone has been estimated at $10 million. http://khmer.sanetech.com/09132000/rise.htm 9/11/00 - Damage by this year's floods to crops alone has been estimated at $10 million. This figure excluded any figure for the extensive damage to Cambodia's infrastructure such as roads and houses. Cambodia usually experiences fairly widespread flooding during the annual rainy season in August and September, but flooding started in early July this year and has been far more extensive than normal. http://khmer.sanetech.com/09112000/floods.htm 9/8/00 - Almost half a million people are reported to have been affected by the flooding. Large areas of farmland have also been destroyed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia- pacific/newsid_916000/916170.stm http://khmer.sanetech.com/ 9/3/00 - The Mekong river flowed above flood warning level in the northern provinces of Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham, which have declared a state of emergency. In the Municipality of Phnom Penh the water level rose to 10.62 m, 12 cm above warning level. It is feared that if the water level reaches 11.2 m, some areas of Phnom Penh will be put under water. The Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) reports that the current flooding is expected to have a serious impact in other provinces, especially Takeo province, though the National Government has not declared a state of emergency at this stage. http://www.reliefweb.int 7 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. 9/5/00 - The NCDM reports the following impact of the recent floods in 5 provinces: Province Affected Affected Crops districts families destroyed (ha) Stung Treng N/A 360 370 Kompong Cham 11 N/A 2,704 Prey Veng 1 (Peam Ror) 1,853 N/A Takeo N/A 1,539 9,074 Kandal 1 (Koki Thom) 700 N/A TOTAL 13 4,452 12,148 In addition, the media report that, in Oddar Meanchey Province, the flooding has caused damage to over 380 houses, the road network and bridges as well as losses of livestock and crops. http://www.reliefweb.int http://khmer.sanetech.com/ 7/26/00 - Flooding has left thousands homeless and destroyed or damaged thousands of hectares (acres) of crops. Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) figures show that nearly 350,000 people live in the flooded areas, which cover nine of Cambodia's 24 provinces, while more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of rice and other crops have been destroyed or damaged. Provinces in neighboring Vietnam's rice bowl Mekong Delta are also struggling with the worst flooding in years. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/000726/1/ae4k8.html 8 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. 9 Flood Areas This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such it represents the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. DEATH TOLL Vietnam 9/15/00 - On Friday, authorities in An Giang reported the deaths of five children aged from three to seven years old, bringing the toll in the past week in the three provinces to 13. http://cnn.com 9/15/00 - The Red Cross said on Friday it was appealing for fresh emergency aid for Vietnam, where the worst floods in decades have killed at least 13 people and driven up to 150,000 from their homes. Officials say nearly half of the three provinces are submerged, with water levels above or approaching those of 1996, when floods killed 217 people, 162 of them children. http://cnn.com 9/13/00 - At least eight people are reported to have died in the worst flooding for many years. Western aid officials say the situation is bad and deteriorating. More water is expected to flow into the Mekong Delta from Cambodia in the coming hours and days. State television has shown people sheltering on dykes which themselves are in danger of collapsing. Elsewhere, rescue teams have used boats to pluck stranded villagers from houses built on stilts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_923000/923219.stm 9/13/00 - The natural disaster claimed six lives, totally damaged 8,000 ha of rice and caused a drop of up to 40 percent in rice yields to more than 27,000 other hectares. The local authorities have helped more than 500 families in flooded areas move to higher places and provided food to the evacuees and another 4,248 needy families. The province has received more than VND 700 million in aid from other localities. However, more than 2,600 families are in need of funding for evacuation and nearly 11,500 others are hungry for food supplies. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/Readnewse.asp?FileN=frac1309.017 9/8/00 – The Vietnam News Agency said one person had been killed and 65 injured by flooding, storms or whirlwinds since August 24 in the Delta Province of An Giang on the border with Cambodia. Neighboring Long An and Dong Thap Provinces had also been hit, it said. http://my.cnn.com/jbcl/cnews/Go? template=qm&summary=off&type=word&query=cambodia&uid=968437065156 9/8/00 - Floods, storms and whirlwinds that have swept An Giang Province since Aug. 24 have killed one person, injured 65 others. http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/Readnewse.asp? FileN=frav0809.005 8/1/00 – Disaster relief officials in Vietnam say flooding in the Mekong Delta, in the country's important southern rice-growing region, is the worst in forty years. At least three people have been killed. The worst affected provinces are Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang. Authorities say they fear the floods could lead to food shortages and disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_861000/861684.stm 10 [...]... world’s poorest people by identifying and marketing very low cost, income generating technologies that can be sold at a fair market price to small-scale farmers IDE has been working in Vietnam since 1991 It has been involved in two projects; the establishment of a coconut processing enterprise in the Mekong Delta, and the market oriented dissemination of low cost drinking water and irrigation pumps across... The province plans to spend about VNĐ 20 billion over the next five years on consolidating field embankments http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn /20000 9/07/Stories/06.htm 8/1/00 – Disaster relief officials in Vietnam say flooding in the Mekong Delta, in the country's important southern rice-growing region, is the worst in forty years Vietnam is accustomed to flooding, but this year's heavy rains have... for emergency aid to flood victims in the central province of Ha Tinh and a number of Mekong Delta provinces The IFRC called upon people within three months to raise USD 388,764 in cash, commodities and services to help 60,000 people in the flooded areas Storm Wukong hit Ha Tinh province on Sept 10, pulling down 1,500 houses, unroofing almost 20,000 others, damaging hundreds of schools and 16,000 ha... their homes because of severe flooding At least eight people are reported to have died in the worst flooding for many years Western aid officials say the situation is bad and deteriorating More water is expected to flow into the Mekong Delta from Cambodia in the coming hours and days State television has shown people sheltering on dykes which themselves are in danger of collapsing Elsewhere, rescue teams... implemented in partnership with indigenous NGOs and clinical institutions International Aid provides support through training, material resources and logistics, in addition to financial support Contact Information 17011 West Hickory Spring Lake, MI 49456-9712 Phone: 616-846-7490 Fax: 616-846-3842 27 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC) As such it represents the opinions of... the opinions of the various authors involved and not the opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity Annually, during the flood season, mainstream water levels rise and flood waters enter canals or flow over embankments flooding large areas of the Mekong Delta The map below shows an example of the range of flood levels in the Lower Mekong Basin in Cambodia... An provinces, bringing its total flood relief aid to the Mekong Delta to VND 330 million Another flood affected province outside the Mekong Delta, Quang Ngai in the central coast, has benefited from VNRC's aid of VND 20 million http://www.vnagency.com.vn/Asp/Readnewse.asp?FileN=frac1309.010 9/11/00 - Tens of thousands of people are still being evacuated in the flood-stricken southern delta provinces... opinions, assessments or positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity Tan Dzung Dzung also urged the administration of Long An province in the south to consider both immediate and long-term measures to minimize flood damages, especially to help more than 70,000 residents in the low-land Plain of Reeds to live together with flooding, during his inspection trip to the province... died during the most devastating rainy season in memory http://khmer.sanetech.com/091 32000/ rise.htm 9/11/00 - Cambodia, facing its worst flooding for several years, said on Monday the number of flood-related deaths this year could surpass that of 1996, the most devastating year in memory The death toll this year has already reached 73, compared to 169 in 1996, with two months left before the rains dry... digging as components of broader community development projects AFSC works with local people in developing new crops and agricultural methods, as well as in animal husbandry and gardening projects It supports agricultural education and training AFSC encourages and supports nutrition and health education, and some feeding programs; helps maintain medical facilities in post war areas; and assists in physical . positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding This is provided as a service of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information. Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Prepared on: on 08 September 2000 Last Updated: On 15 September 2000 1 This is product of the USCINCPAC Virtual Information Center (VIC). As such. positions of HQ USCINCPAC, DoD or any other government agency or entity. Mekong River 2000 Flooding Mekong River 2000 Flooding Executive Summary 1. Assessment: This years Mekong River floods are