Emergency Flood Relief for Central Vietnam
Donation protected
What's happening?
Currently, Central Vietnam is facing an environmental catastrophe that is historic in scale. This area is already chronically stricken by poverty and vulnerability to yearly floods. Within the span of ten days, these impoverished provinces were hit with three consecutive storms, with the most violent being level 12 (118km/hr). The rising waters triggered by these storms are the highest since 1983 (more than 4,58 meters). Let’s be clear, there is nothing natural about the unique severity of this year’s disaster. It’s intricately linked to climate change and human activities (destruction of forests, etc) conditioned by globalized racial capitalism, which surgically affects the most vulnerable.
So far, the deadly floods and fatal landslides had left 84 people dead, 38 more missing, killed 461.627 animals, inundated more than 109,000 homes. Though nearly 46,000 people have been evacuated, this is just the beginning as there is no end of incoming storms in sight. While the storms and floods are especially vicious and devastating this year, governmental relief efforts are severely handicapped due to redirected public fundings for Covid-19. Currently, many vulnerable families are completely isolated without access to food and necessities. Thousands more are living in at-risk areas waiting to be evacuated.
What's being done?
There are currently many noteworthy civilian-led efforts on the ground, but the one I put my trust in is the efforts from Plum Village monastics who have historical precedent in doing this work. Plum Village is a monastic community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in exile. During the war in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh dreamt of cultivating a community of Buddhists that are actively engaged in the world. Back then, he and his students would bravely travel to Central Vietnam’s war-stricken and flooded territories in isolation--which no one dared going into--to aid civilians in need. He infamously cut one of his fingers and dropped his blood in Thu Bon river to pray:
“These drops of blood are to pray for the people who had died because of storms, floods and war. We vow to never forget you.”
Now, his students are proudly carrying on his legacy to put their practice and bodies on the line to meet the challenges of our time. Relief work is dangerous and life-threatening, as 13 soldiers just died during their relief mission. The monastics are having to ride the dangerous floods to deliver care packages and money to people in need. Let's do our small part in helping them.
How can you help?
This fundraising is for people outside of Vietnam who want to lend a hand in immediate relief and recovery efforts. A little goes a VERY LONG way as only $1 can buy five packs of instant noodles in Vietnam. All money will go directly to brother Tu Hai who is working on the ground in Central Vietnam alongside his other Plum Village brothers and sisters.
You can also venmo me at @LarryLiem-Nguyen
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(AFP Photo/Hoang Dinh Nam)
Currently, Central Vietnam is facing an environmental catastrophe that is historic in scale. This area is already chronically stricken by poverty and vulnerability to yearly floods. Within the span of ten days, these impoverished provinces were hit with three consecutive storms, with the most violent being level 12 (118km/hr). The rising waters triggered by these storms are the highest since 1983 (more than 4,58 meters). Let’s be clear, there is nothing natural about the unique severity of this year’s disaster. It’s intricately linked to climate change and human activities (destruction of forests, etc) conditioned by globalized racial capitalism, which surgically affects the most vulnerable.
So far, the deadly floods and fatal landslides had left 84 people dead, 38 more missing, killed 461.627 animals, inundated more than 109,000 homes. Though nearly 46,000 people have been evacuated, this is just the beginning as there is no end of incoming storms in sight. While the storms and floods are especially vicious and devastating this year, governmental relief efforts are severely handicapped due to redirected public fundings for Covid-19. Currently, many vulnerable families are completely isolated without access to food and necessities. Thousands more are living in at-risk areas waiting to be evacuated.
What's being done?
There are currently many noteworthy civilian-led efforts on the ground, but the one I put my trust in is the efforts from Plum Village monastics who have historical precedent in doing this work. Plum Village is a monastic community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in exile. During the war in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh dreamt of cultivating a community of Buddhists that are actively engaged in the world. Back then, he and his students would bravely travel to Central Vietnam’s war-stricken and flooded territories in isolation--which no one dared going into--to aid civilians in need. He infamously cut one of his fingers and dropped his blood in Thu Bon river to pray:
“These drops of blood are to pray for the people who had died because of storms, floods and war. We vow to never forget you.”
Now, his students are proudly carrying on his legacy to put their practice and bodies on the line to meet the challenges of our time. Relief work is dangerous and life-threatening, as 13 soldiers just died during their relief mission. The monastics are having to ride the dangerous floods to deliver care packages and money to people in need. Let's do our small part in helping them.
How can you help?
This fundraising is for people outside of Vietnam who want to lend a hand in immediate relief and recovery efforts. A little goes a VERY LONG way as only $1 can buy five packs of instant noodles in Vietnam. All money will go directly to brother Tu Hai who is working on the ground in Central Vietnam alongside his other Plum Village brothers and sisters.
You can also venmo me at @LarryLiem-Nguyen
__________
(AFP Photo/Hoang Dinh Nam)
Organizer
Liem Duy Nguyen
Organizer
Kirkland, WA
