The silence and apathy after Typhoon Yagi is just as dangerous as the storm itself.

During my recent visit to Yen Bai, one of the provinces hardest hit by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam, I met children and their families. Different stories, different circumstances, but all with the same sadness. All were picking up the scattered pieces of debris to rebuild their lives.

Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam, visited children and families affected by Typhoon Yagi in Yen Bai. (Photo: UNICEF)

The pain still screams like a strong wind

What were once happy, bustling homes filled with laughter and love are now empty, lifeless ruins. Thousands of places are filled with cherished memories such as a child’s first steps, the aroma of meals cooked in a familiar kitchen, the safety, care, and protection that only a home can provide.

The remnants of life – tattered clothes, broken toys, soaked photographs – lie scattered among the rubble. These objects, once cherished, are now haunting reminders of a life that is no longer the same.

Typhoon Yagi may be gone, but the pain it left behind still screams like the winds that brought it. Families, already vulnerable, now face an unimaginable challenge: How to rebuild their lives when everything is gone? How to explain to children why their parents died, why their schools were washed away, why there is no clean water to drink?

The pain is not only about the immediate loss, but also the uncertainty of the future. (Photo: UNICEF)

The pain is not just about the immediate loss, but also about the uncertainty of the future. The effects of Typhoon Yagi will be felt for months, perhaps years, to come. For more than five million children, life has changed forever. Their futures are in danger from the consequences of this disaster.

However, the world did not stand idly by as disaster struck, destroying lives and futures. Public and private sector partners, in Viet Nam and around the world, stepped up to support the humanitarian response, providing critical financial support to enable the Government, UNICEF and the United Nations to launch an emergency response. We are grateful for this strong commitment and solidarity. Together, we are supporting the Government’s efforts, providing immediate relief as well as providing long-term support to ensure the survival of all those affected.

But much more attention and resources are needed to ensure children and families pick up the pieces and rebuild homes, schools and hospitals that can withstand the worst disasters. They need immediate, practical support.

Restore normalcy, heal emotions

In the face of the devastating impact of the storm, UNICEF is working tirelessly with government partners to ensure that these children and their families receive the support they need. The response is rapid and multifaceted, not only to address immediate needs but also to lay the foundation for long-term recovery.

UNICEF teams on the ground have been distributing essential supplies for nearly a month, including nutrition products, clean water and hygiene kits, to ensure the most basic needs are met in these critical early days.

Kindergarten supplies and toys are being delivered to flooded and damaged facilities so that children can continue their learning without delay. (Photo: UNICEF)

Kindergarten supplies and toys are being delivered to flooded and damaged facilities so that children can continue their learning without delay. This is important, not only for children’s cognitive development but also to restore a sense of normality in their lives.

But UNICEF, working with the government, is going beyond meeting basic needs. Child protection services are being mobilized to provide psychological support to children traumatized by the loss of their homes, schools and, for many, loved ones. These children need more than material support; they need emotional healing.

Longer-term recovery efforts will focus on restoring health facilities and providing clean water, ensuring that affected communities can recover and return to growth. UNICEF will support government partners to ensure that essential services are rebuilt or strengthened to be more resilient to natural disasters, with an inclusive and child-centred approach.

This also means mobilizing more support from communities at home and abroad, and mobilizing resources to ensure children are not forgotten, especially when the news turns its attention to other issues.

A future full of hope

Despite the loss, there is still hope. Emergency relief efforts are making a difference. Children are learning, using new books, pens and backpacks. More supplies of clean water and sanitation are being delivered. Families are starting to plan for the future, knowing they are not alone in this journey. The storm may have broken their homes, but it did not break their spirits.

With continued support, these families will rebuild stronger and more resilient. This is important because Vietnam is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change is only increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

Typhoon Yagi is powerful, but so is the human spirit, especially when nurtured by care, solidarity and mutual support. Together, with continued efforts, a brighter, safer future is within the reach of Vietnamese children.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/truong-dai-dien-unicef-tai-viet-nam-su-tinh-lang-vo-cam-sau-bao-yagi-cung-nguy-hiem-khong-kem-gi-con-bao-290312.html