PRESS RELEASE

United States Provides Additional Emergency Aid to Vietnam

October 7, 2009

HANOI, October 7, 2009 -- The U.S. Government has allocated an additional $500,000 in emergency assistance for the people of Vietnam in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ketsana, bringing the total assistance provided by the United States to $600,000.

The additional $500,000 has been provided through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development in response to an international emergency appeal issued October 2 by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).

A USAID disaster assistance expert is also liaising with Vietnamese and U.S. officials and humanitarian partners working in the affected areas to determine the most pressing relief needs.

On October 1, U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Michalak had secured an initial $100,000 in USAID grant funding to the IFRC in support of local relief operations.

Typhoon Ketsana, which made landfall on September 29, brought high winds and heavy rains in 14 provinces throughout Central Vietnam. Prior to landfall, the Government of Vietnam evacuated an estimated 600,000 people. The typhoon and associated flooding killed 170 people, injured more than 600 others, and caused over 21,000 houses to collapse.

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