06 December 2013 – The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has donated USD 100,000 to the Philippines to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the central part of the Philippines. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has also offered to send a team of medical experts, medical equipment and medicine to the hard-hit areas as part of its humanitarian assistance.
Immediately after the devastation caused by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines was revealed to the world through international news reports, the highest leaders of Vietnam immediately expressed their sympathy to the Philippine Government. President Truong Tan Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh sent separate letters of sympathy addressed to their counterparts in the Philippines.
After causing devastation in Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo and Palawan, the tyhoon, which has weakened into a severe tropical storm under Category 1, headed for the province of Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam where it brought heavy rains causing the death of at least 13 people and damage to properties.
The goodwill obtaining between the Philippine and Vietnam is manifested through the various letters of support that the Philippine Embassy has received coming from different agencies of the government, international community, private companies and ordinary people in Vietnam.
Vietnam Red Cross also donated USD 50,000 to the victims of the typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) through the Philippine Red Cross. FPT International Academy is likewise planning to donate 100 million Vietnamese dong to the humanitarian cause.
VietjetAir, a private airline in Vietnam, has partnered with the Philippine Consulate General and a Filipino group “Samahan ng Pinoy sa Vietnam” in order to bring relief goods to the Philippine free of charge. “Pinoy sa Hanoi,” another Filipino group based in Hanoi, is presently undertaking fundraising activities on behalf of the typhoon victims.
A condolence book for the victims of the typhoon was opened to the diplomatic community from November 13 to 15. Over 50 diplomats from missions and international organizations based in Hanoi signed the condolence book. H.E. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh signed the condolence book on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Philippine Government would like to extend its appreciation to all those who have exerted efforts in assisting the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Their kind words and comapssionate acts are sources of inspiration for the Philippine and the Filipino people in order to rise again and overcome these challenges of nature. END