Vietnam continues aid to victims of Lao dam collapse

Thứ Bảy, 28/07/2018, 15:39

PSNews - Vietnamese agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals have offered aid to victims of the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in Sanamxay district of the Lao province of Attapeu.

 A man paddles his boat through a flooded village in the Samamxay district, Attapeu province, Laos on Thursday, Jul. 26, 2018. Authorities and the builder are investigating why a dam in southeastern Laos collapsed earlier this week, killing at least two dozen people and leaving over a hundred missing. (Hau Dinh/Associated Press)

Dao Van Hieu, Vietnamese Consul General to 4 southern provinces of Laos, on July 27 visited and presented gifts to affected families, pledging that his consulate general would provide further practical support to help victims soon stabilize their lives. 

He also visited and encouraged the rescue team members, who have currently lived with family of Vu Van Duong, Mitsamphanh village, Sanamxay district. 

Regarding further supports, Hieu said the agency has called on many businesses, organizations, and individuals in the four southern provinces of Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, and Attapeu to assist the victims. 

The same day, the Vietnamese Association in Attapeu handed over 1 million LAK, along with many essential commodities, to each of the affected families. 

Unitel, a joint venture between Vietnam’s Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) and Lao Asia Telecom Company, also donated 400 million LAK (nearly 50,000 USD) in total to the victims. 

A delegation of the PetroVietnam Oil Corporation also visited and presented 10,000 USD and necessities to the Lao residents. 

Earlier, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group donated 50 tons of rice, 100,000 packets of noodles, five tons of dried fish, and 2,000 sets of clothes to the victims.

More aid and donation from Vietnamese business in Laos will be delivered to the people affected by the dam collapse.

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said at a press conference on July 25 that the dam collapse has already affected 13 villages and is continuing to reach six others as the floods are still flowing. He also added that 587 families with 3,060 people have been made homeless, with 131 people still missing. 
By Duy Tien