UN approves aid to Vietnamese typhoon victims

Hanoi Nov 28 (IANS) The UN has approved an additional allocation of $4.2 million to assist 150 000 people in Vietnam affected by the devastating typhoon Damrey.

The funds will be used to provide life-saving assistance to 150 000 people including nearly 47 000 children and support time-critical interventions over the next six months the UN in Vietnam said on Tuesday.

Damrey made landfall on November 4 causing widespread flooding and destruction across the country s central region reports Xinhua news agency.

The UN in Vietnam estimates that nearly $60.5 million will be required over the next 12 months both to address short and medium-term needs and to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to recurrent disasters.

Over 4.3 million people were affected by the typhoon including 400 000 people who require humanitarian assistance.

"Natural disasters mostly flash floods and landslides in Vietnam killed or left 245 people missing in the first 10 months of this year " the country s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

--IANS
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