Teachers cook rice and welcome people to evacuate school

The water level of the Red River has risen above the level 2 warning level and is expected to continue to rise, forcing more than 800 households outside the Red River dike in 4 wards of Bac Tu Liem district to evacuate to safety. In this situation, many schools in the area have prepared facilities, supplies, drinking water and essential food, ready to welcome households to take shelter in the school.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh, Principal of Thuy Phuong Primary School, said that since yesterday, the school has fully prepared food, hot/cold drinks, and sleeping places to welcome people to school. The capacity of the school's gymnasium can reach about 80 - 100 people, but currently only 3 households with 8 people have come to the school to take shelter.

“If the water continues to rise, the school is ready to welcome people,” Ms. Thanh said.

Thuy Phuong.jpg — Thuy Phuong Primary School prepares human resources, facilities, supplies, drinking water and essential food. Arranges a gymnasium to welcome households to take shelter at the school when the locality conducts evacuation. (Photo: Provided by the school)

With the number of people coming to school not yet large, Ms. Thanh said that "the school can still take care of itself". At noon today, the school asked the kitchen to cook 8 more meals so that people can eat with the students. This evening, the teachers will stay to cook for the people.

“At present, all teachers are unanimous in joining hands to contribute. Because the number of people coming is not large, the school has proposed to the ward to let the school take the initiative, the leaders can rest assured to prevent flooding on the dike. When the number is larger and support is needed, the school will propose.

We are always ready to join hands to share with our fellow countrymen during this difficult period, only hoping that people in flooded areas will proactively evacuate to ensure safety for themselves and their families," said Ms. Thanh.

Dong Ngac Secondary School has also proactively prepared foam mats, blankets, pillows, drinking water, and instant food to serve people who have evacuated. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, Principal of Dong Ngac Secondary School, said that the school has arranged an independent area, a multi-purpose hall with a capacity of 150-200 people. In case students switch to online learning, the school's capacity can be up to thousands of people.

“Currently, no people have come to the school, but we are ready to welcome them at any time,” said Ms. Phuong.

Duc Thang Secondary School prepares facilities to welcome students, parents and local residents to avoid flooding. (Photo: Provided by the school)

Dong Ngac Secondary School has prepared facilities and conditions for people to stay at school until it is safe to return home. “We hope everyone will stay calm so that everyone can be safe,” Ms. Phuong shared.

Similarly, Duc Thang Secondary School said that in response to information that people had to evacuate from flooded areas, the school had arranged the 4th floor of the boarding house as temporary accommodation and was ready to welcome about 150 people.

“For families at risk of flooding, we will also invite students and their families to evacuate to school. The school is ready to welcome people at any time,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thinh, the school’s principal.

Teachers and staff of Thuong Cat Secondary School support residents with accommodation and meals. (Photo: Provided by the school)

Support people to evacuate to school. (Photo: Provided by the school)

Thuong Cat Secondary School has also prepared rice, water, and instant noodles since yesterday; reserved a library and boarding rooms, with a capacity of about 200 people, to be ready to welcome people to take shelter.

Yesterday, the Department of Education and Training of Bac Tu Liem district directed schools in the area to prepare human resources, facilities, supplies, drinking water and essential food, and be ready to welcome households to take shelter at schools when localities evacuate people, ensuring safety.

Schools have arranged gymnasiums, meeting rooms and functional rooms to welcome people, so the relocation does not affect students' learning.

Even though she is in Hoang Mai, Ms. Tran Thi Bich Lien, Principal of Tan Mai Primary School, said that if she continues to be assigned the task of being the place to receive households after the storm damage, the school is always ready.

Previously, this school had been the place to receive households from the old A7 Tan Mai apartment building to respond to storm No. 3 Yagi. The school arranged 11 classrooms, prepared blankets, mattresses, carpets, drinking water and instant noodles to serve the households during the stormy days.