It rained for three days and nights before the ground beneath their house gave way. In the 55 years that Nong Van Vang and his family had lived in Xà Pèng village, Cao Bang, none could remember a storm like Yagi. The typhoon descended upon northern Vietnam on September 7, 2024, devastating the country for the next five days with landslides, flooding, and widespread displacement.
Typhoon Yagi was one of the most powerful storms Vietnam has experienced in decades. It claimed hundreds of lives, destroyed nearly 300,000 homes, and damaged approximately 455,000 acres of agricultural land across 26 provinces, leaving 19 million people facing threats to water, food, and health security. In total, Yagi caused over $3 billion in economic damage.
Vietnam, the international community, and the United States Government responded quickly. On September 11, USAID announced $1 million in humanitarian aid, providing cash assistance to 1,800 households in Yen Bai and Lao Cai, helping over 6,500 individuals meet urgent needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. The aid also supported households in Cao Bang, reaching more than 3,000 people, including Do and Vang.
Nine households evacuated from the mountainside that night to find shelter. Now, their children play among the temporary shelters and food aid provided by the Vietnamese government. Everything they could save is packed into the small schoolroom they are living in. The storm destroyed their home and barn, including their livestock.
“We do not have a house for our family, let alone for animals. Everything you can see here is what we could carry,” said Mr. Nong Van Vang.
Though not ideal, the school has been a safe haven for the families to regroup and plan for the future. It is not safe to move back to their land, so leadership in Xà Pèng has provided them with new land to relocate to. They are currently leveling the land and building a bridge to access it across a small river. Like many other families, the cash assistance provided by USAID will be used to rebuild and start over.
“It is now the dry season in northern Vietnam, and it is a bit safer, but all around the school there are still landslides. We will have our new land after the Tet holiday. Then we will be able to rebuild,” said Mr. Nong Van Vang.
Their resilience in the face of such odds is a testament to the spirit of the Vietnamese people, who have also generously donated food, household items, and shelter to those affected by the storm.
The United States government’s response to the devastating effects of Typhoon Yagi is part of a long-standing relationship to improve Vietnam's ability to respond to natural disasters. Since 2000, USAID, through its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, has partnered with Vietnam to provide more than $37 million in disaster response, preparedness, and risk reduction assistance to strengthen the ability of local communities to confront natural disasters like Typhoon Yagi.
Credits:
Words and Photos: Benjamin Ilka