By Aditi Gupta
Abstract:
Typhoon Yagi struck several Southeast Asian nations, with Vietnam and Myanmar being the worst affected. In Vietnam, the typhoon’s intense winds and torrential rains resulted in severe damage, flooding, crop destruction, infrastructure damage and a death toll of approximately 290, bringing the total death toll in South Asia to over 500. The effect of climate change and warmer oceans on Typhoon Yagi’s intensity highlights the rising threat of tropical storms in Southeast Asia. This article explores the Vietnamese government’s disaster response, which involved multi-departmental coordination, including emergency relief, infrastructure repairs and health services. International aid, led by organisations such as the UNDP and UNICEF, and financial and humanitarian support from nations were crucial in assisting the affected populations. Moreover, lessons focused on restoring livelihoods, preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring long-term resilience in the wake of the disaster can be derived.
Introduction: The Storm’s Devastating Path
Vietnam is a socialist nation with a single-party system headed by the Communist Party of Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh’s ideologies. They are a middle-income nation. Their geography consists of mostly hilly and mountainous areas, with a long coastline and two prominent deltas where major cultivation activities are conducted. The country needs help in sustainable development due to the constant onslaught of water-related natural disasters. The most recent of such disasters, Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Vietnam on 7th September 2024 on the north-eastern coast near Haiphong City, Vietnam. Vietnam and Myanmar were the worst hit. Furthermore, damages of around 1.6 billion USD have been reported as the typhoon was termed the strongest storm in South Asia this year, equivalent to a category 3 hurricane with a maximum sustained wind speed of 127 miles per hour. In Myanmar, the typhoon left 384 dead, adding another 320,000 people to the existing displaced. Owing to the persisting political conflict, the ongoing military coup since 2021 has resulted in 3 million Internally Displaced People. Furthermore, the dynamism and strength of Vietnam’s infrastructure and environment protection measures are constantly tested as the nation is subject to severe rainfall and approximately 4-6 typhoons strike annually. There are an average of 500 deaths due to extreme weather events annually, however, the primary issue is the clustering of settlements in the coastal and low-lying areas which consist of low-income families and unstable houses. In this article, an analysis of Vietnam’s response to the typhoon is explored and analysed to derive lessons for community resilience and capability building of infrastructure in the face of climate change.
Typhoon Yagi brought powerful winds and torrential rainfall forcing tens of thousands to evacuate and causing destruction to the local environment. Although the eye of Typhoon Yagi was 200 kilometres from Hanoi City, the average wind speeds were sufficient to, “completely uproot trees, blow away corrugated iron roofs[, topple poles] and billboards”. Vehicles such as buses (one carrying 20 people), cars, trucks and motorbikes were washed away in a torrent after the steel bridge over the engorged Red River collapsed in Phu Tho province. Northern parts of Vietnam were inundated by some of the river’s worst floods in decades, causing damage to 3,300 houses and 120,000 hectares of crops. Communes along the Red River suffered the most after croplands, fields and farms were buried under mud, sand and soil leaving them uncultivable. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay, witnessed the sinking of 30 vessels after being hit by waves of strong winds and rain. Similarly, Quang Ninh observed vessels being washed away with sailors and crew members on board. Furthermore, a hillside collapsed onto a house and the rescuers could not reach it as landslides blocked paths to many such accidents. There was a disruption in power supplies and telecommunications due to the storm. Quang Ninh and Hai Phong were the most affected, both important seaports for trade and manufacturing hubs. Parts of Hai Phong, the port city, were under half a metre of water with a massive power outage.
Out of 5.98 million households and institutions affected in the country electricity had been restored to 4.2 million within 48 hours and the resumption to the remaining was reported on 16th September, 2024. The storm has affected livelihoods, officials estimated that a decade of progress was undone in some cases. Hua Long Beach is a famous tourist attraction and was cleaned by volunteers. The typhoon compromised access to clean drinking water, sanitation, food, shelter, education and healthcare. At least 6 million children were affected, especially the vulnerable and poor, heightening the risk of diseases, snake bites and water-borne diseases. Low-lying areas are under constant danger of flash floods as the water recedes and due to continued downpours after the retreat of Typhoon Yagi. Travel and airports were also affected post-typhoon as flights were cancelled at 4 airports.
Vietnam’s Disaster Management Response
An appropriate disaster management response starts with analysing the disaster and deployment of immediate relief efforts for survivors and injured citizens. The affected nation must have availability and abundance of emergency equipment, deployment teams and funds. Similarly, agencies and units were deployed in Vietnam to respond to the incurred damage and any potential incoming floods. Tran Sy Thanh is the Chairman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee which comes under the provincial People’s Council to implement policies and measures. He urged the Directors, department heads, branches and the Chairman of People’s Committees to strengthen storm response efforts, raise vigilance, closely monitor weather developments, proactively direct timely actions, quickly address damage and cleanliness, restore production and ensure public safety while avoiding passive or unexpected situations. The next priority, especially in the coastal regions, is to stop the spread of communicable diseases to avoid epidemic breakouts. The Department of Health directed hospitals to provide the best care and treatment for those injured by the storm and being treated at medical facilities. Additionally, it guided and urged localities and relevant units to implement plans for disinfection, sterilisation and disease prevention in the storm’s aftermath.
The disaster response was coordinated by several units and departments specialising in their specific domains for the effective resumption of everyday life. Forces were deployed to address the damage and ensure a clean safe environment post-storm. They reviewed and assessed the damage, offering support according to regulations and developed plans to increase crop production to compensate for storm-related losses. Local Women’s Unions organised field kitchens, coordinated aid and went home to home to provide assistance.
Relief Efforts and the Way Forward
The Vietnamese government encouraged and invited humanitarian support. Donations and aid can make all the difference to affected nations by providing resources. UN Development Programme officials in Yen Bai facilitated rebuilding, crop conversion and sustainable farming practices to create future resilience for the affected communities. A cash-for-work program supported by the UNDP for immediate financial relief was set up to create jobs for those who have no income or have lost everything so that they can rebuild their homes, sustain food and repair work. In the comprehensive relief effort 438,000 officials, soldiers, disaster response experts and volunteers have been deployed. Red Cross Society of China donated 100,000 USD to the Vietnam Red Cross Society, progressing relations and cooperation between Vietnam and China. UNICEF provided ground support and supplies were delivered. Russia delivered 35 tons of humanitarian aid. The European Union donated 2.2 million pounds to victims of Typhoon Yagi out of which 650,000 pounds to Vietnam. Moreover, India has undertaken Operation Sadbhav in the international effort, sending 53 tons of emergency food worth 1 million USD to Myanmar under its Act East and Neighbourhood First Policy. These are all important aspects for maintaining the hope and hardiness of citizens in a crisis, especially considering the resilience shown by communities affected by Typhoon Yagi, as they work together with relief agencies and local authorities to rebuild their lives and create a stronger, more prepared future.
The Role of Climate Change
Fuelled by climate change and warmer oceans, more energy is provided to storms helping them gain stronger wind speeds and heavier rainfalls. Tropical cyclones transport excess heat from the oceans and become the natural physical mechanism for warming in the oceans. We need to mitigate warming and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere along with careful adaptation and planning to minimise further damage to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Vietnam is one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change, especially those living along the Red River in Hanoi. Tropical cyclones, storms and typhoons are among the costliest and most damaging natural disasters to communities around the world. Restoring livelihoods and the rebuilding of our environment are the most important steps in Asia. Typhoons cause higher impacts on the Southeast Asian coastlines as there is high population density in low-lying areas. Moreover, tropical cyclones are increasingly unpredictable as global temperatures rise as well as persist longer after making landfall in Southeast Asia. Phan Van Tan from the University of Science at Vietnam National University commented that storms at this time are usual however the strength of the storm was unprecedented. Due to geographic and geological reasons, Southeast Asia experiences recurring powerful storms and natural disasters.
The world’s infrastructure was built for a climate that no longer exists. Under an urban development programme, Hanoi achieved the goal of planting one million trees in 2018. However, as the storm toppled over many trees, the residents noticed the roots of the trees were encased in the plastic they were transported in, essentially hindering and stagnating growth, preventing soil contact and vulnerability to strong winds. Moreover, century-old trees were pruned at the roots due to extensive underground infrastructure and toppled over too. Long-term climate change will also affect economic growth in Vietnam, a projected one-metre sea-level rise would impact 10% of its GDP loss and population. Nonetheless, despite sensitivity and exposure to adverse risks, Vietnam has proved its response, rebuilding and adaptive capacity to climate change.
Lessons from Yagi
Despite the losses and damage incurred, the Vietnamese have set an example of disaster management without elaborate schemes and expensive inputs. In India, climate resilience and enhancement of coastal communities is being undertaken. The Government of India in partnership with the UN Development Programme are working towards an integrated ecosystem-centric and community-based approach to adapt coastal regions for management and planning. In any natural disaster, there are two focus areas- immediate relief capabilities and long-term efforts due to the damage to life. The Vietnamese are collectivist and exhibit strong trust in local leadership which is evident in their system of People’s Committees. The strength of Vietnamese communities and their resilience to a storm such as Typhoon Yagi must be taken inspiration from. Even as entire livelihoods were set back, young children, women and officials mobilised in unity eager to assist one another. There is undeniably a sense of durability derived from the collective action and national unity of the Vietnamese.
About the Author: Aditi Gupta is a graduate of B.A. (Hons.) Liberal Arts and Humanities with a major in Political Science and International Relations. She is interested in pursuing further studies in international relations, environment and economics.
NICKELED AND DIMED 