RYTHM Foundation donates to Relief and Rehabilitation Efforts in Vietnam and Laos

Hong Kong: 10 November 2009 – A few days after having battered Metro Manila and the nearby provinces, Typhoon Ketsana (locally known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ondoy) swept through Vietnam, Laos and its neighbouring countries from 29 September through the first week of October 2009. RYTHM Foundation through the QuestNet Pays Forward programme expeditiously partnered with international NGO World Vision in extending emergency relief assistance and rehabilitation funds to Vietnam and Laos. Typhoon Ketsana hit the central and highland provinces of Vietnam and made serious destructions which were not seen in 40 years. It caused widespread damages in 15 provinces most affected of which were Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam and Quang Tri. Government reports stated a total of 172 casualties, 860 injured and 12 missing. The typhoon also brought significant damages in infrastructure such as roads, electricity and irrigation systems the total estimated cost of which is USD 795 Million. World Vision-Vietnam reported that as of 4 March 2010, around 5,681 children and adults have benefited from relief and rehabilitation activities funded by the RYTHM Foundation donation. World Vision worked closely with its local partners and other government and international agencies in providing the victims food, clothes, blankets, seeds (rice, vegetable, etc), child protection and trainings. Typhoon Ketsana also wreaked havoc in southern Laos for 3 days in early October 2009. Provinces affected were Attapeu, Sekong, Saravan, Savannakhet and Champassach. World Vision concentrated its relief and recovery efforts in the Savannakhet Province where it leveraged an established programming presence. 80 villages in Savannakhet were hit and agricultural lands, community assets (such as rice banks), local infrastructure (minor roads, pathways, bridges, etc) and private means of production (tools, seeds, livestock, etc) essential to local livelihood were either damaged or totally destroyed. World Vision-Laos immediately launched an emergency response which involved distribution of food in partnership with World Food Program and non-food items such as roofing materials, candles and blankets. The long-term recovery phase which the RYTHM Foundation donation was utilised for focussed on livelihood re-establishment (mostly agricultural), disaster risk reduction awareness and rehabilitation of essential community based infrastructure such as village pathways, bridges and water management systems. The overall relief project comprehensive assessment has undertaken a beneficiary selection process and has identified and helped out 4 village communities in Savannakhet namely, Sepone, Nong, Phine and Xonnabouly, collectively composed of 300 households with 1,500 beneficiaries in total. ———– About World Vision International World Vision is a development, relief and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities worldwide to reach their full potential by addressing the causes of poverty and injustice. “Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.” To know more about World Vision International, visit www.worldvision.org