Clean water is a life-saver after a typhoon in Vietnam

Water Tank Distribution Provides Stable Water Supply for Households Affected by Doksuri Typhoon in Ky Anh District in Vietnam

When Typhoon Doksuri struck Ms Luân’s two-room house, the roof and one of the walls were blown away. Her clothes, household items and some of her furnishings went missing.

Luân, a 26-year old mother of two pre-schoolers, comes from the Ky Anh district, one of the most impoverished areas of Vietnam, which is prone to natural disasters. This was not the first typhoon that Luân’s family had witnessed, but it was one of the worst.

Doksuri made landfall in Vietnam in September 2017, striking homes, water and power supplies, and destroyed the livelihoods of more than 460,000 people. People lost their farms and their fishing businesses. Luân’s 3-hectare indigo plantation was ruined as the wind battered and broke the plants.

The damage caused to the water supply network was particularly serious. A few families in the area had water tanks already to ensure they have enough clean drinking water, but most could not afford to purchase storage tanks.

Without a water tank, Luân had to collect water manually to provide for her family’s daily needs, which was tiring and time-consuming.
Humanitarian Coalition member CARE Canada and its international partners responded to the pressing needs of these communities. They rehabilitated or rebuilt houses, ensured people had access to clean water, provided gender-friendly hygiene kits, and offered stainless steel water tanks to the families in greatest need, Luân’s among them.

The tank will store water from a nearby community well to ensure a stable supply, and is durable enough to be used for a long time and to withstand another emergency.

“I’m so happy to receive this water tank. Now I have more clean water for cooking and drinking. Our family can stop using polluted water and I don’t have to worry about diarrhea and itchy skin anymore,” says Luân.

“I wish that everyone had access to clean water for daily use and so everyone could stay healthy.”

After Typhoon Doksuri struck, CARE Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and the Humanitarian Coalition worked together to make Lûan’s wish come true for thousands of people.

Your contribution to the Humanitarian Coalition ensures that people like Luân can receive life-saving assistance when disaster strikes.