Kindergartens set up to protect children from floods
Ha Noi, Sept. 25 (VNA) -- Relief workers have set up as many as 510 kindergartens in the Mekong Delta in a bid to stop the deaths of children in flash floods while their parents are away at work.
Of the latest death toll of 155 in the delta, as many as 134 are children. The victims are mostly poor families where the parents have to leave their children behind as they go out in search of work to eke out a living.
The Southern Committee for Floods and Storms Control reports that 40 districts and townships in the provinces of Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, Can Tho, Kien Giang and Tien Giang have been inundated. Some 1,680 houses have been destroyed or washed away, and 8,051 others have been damaged. More than 242,128 pupils are unable to attend school.
Material losses are estimated at more than VND 485 billion (USD 32 million).
Agricultural production has been hit particularly hard with 3,426 ha of rice fields completely destroyed, and 10,117 ha as well as 5,130 fish and shrimp ponds damaged.
Local authorities are continuing to work closely with rescue teams and volunteers to evacuate residents to higher ground and help stranded families. They have so far moved 20,441 families, and another 20,496 families await evacuation in the provinces of Dong Thap, Long An, An Giang, Kien Giang, and Tien Giang.
The total number of families needing emergency relief including food is estimated at 141,678.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the Government to provide VND 40 billion to affected areas in the delta for rehabilitation efforts.--VNA
