PRESS RELEASE

October 2, 2009

United States Provides Assistance to Vietnam Typhoon Victims

HANOI, October 2, 2009 – Expressing his condolences to the families of those affected by Typhoon Ketsana, U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak today announced that the United States Government will provide $100,000 worth of disaster relief assistance to people affected by the storm. During their meeting yesterday in Washington D.C., U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also expressed her condolences to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Typhoon Ketsana slammed into Vietnam's 12 Central provinces, including Da Nang, Vietnam's fourth largest city, the afternoon of September 29, 2009, causing devastating floods and landslides that have resulted in at least 93 deaths, the destruction or damage of over 350,000 houses, and significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural crops.  As of mid-day October 1, 2009, the Government of Vietnam initially estimated damages in five of the 12 affected provinces to be more than $120 million.

The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide the $100,000 to support the emergency response activities of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to meet the needs of up to 4,000 households in the hard-hit areas.  In particular, the planned funding is expected to be used for household kits including blankets, mosquito nets and other non-food emergency supplies.