UN supports South, Southeast Asian nations responding to flooding, landslides: spokesperson
United Nations, Dec 5
The United Nations continues to support the governments of some South and Southeast Asian nations in responding to the catastrophic flooding and landslides that have reportedly killed over 1, 500 people and impacted nearly 11 million people, a UN spokesperson said.
In Sri Lanka, the United Nations and its partners continue to support the government-led response and assessments, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, told a daily briefing on Thursday.
He said that in close coordination with the authorities, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have delivered emergency aid, including food, hygiene supplies, kitchen sets and water tanks, and early recovery efforts are underway, including deeper damage assessments.
For Vietnam, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated $2.6 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund on Wednesday to bolster assistance in the most affected provinces, to support shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as food security interventions to complement the government-led efforts, said the spokesperson.
Dujarric noted that in Indonesia, the government-led response to the devastating floods in Aceh continues despite major logistical and access challenges, and the United Nations is working closely with the government there on logistics, health, water and sanitation, and is facilitating coordination with local partners.
The United Nations will continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and remain in close contact with national authorities, he said.
Parts of South and Southeast Asia have witnessed the most devastating flooding in years as a result of relentless downpours compounded by a tropical cyclone, with Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia among the hardest hit, facing record-breaking rainfall, storm surges and widespread inundation, Xinhua news agency reported.
Experts say the disasters were driven by an unusual convergence of powerful weather systems, including Cyclones Ditwah and Senyar, alongside a strengthened northeast monsoon.
Across the region, nearly 11 million people have been affected, including about 1.2 million forced from their homes into shelters, while roads, utilities and farmlands have been washed away.
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— IANS
Reader Comments
It's good to see international cooperation in times of crisis. India has also faced similar monsoon disasters. I hope our NDRF and disaster management agencies are sharing best practices with these countries. Solidarity is key in our region.
The logistical challenges mentioned in Aceh must be immense. Delivering aid in flooded areas is a nightmare. Hats off to the ground teams, both local and international, who are risking their lives to get supplies through. $2.6 million for Vietnam sounds like a start, but the need will be far greater for recovery.
While the UN's role is important, the report highlights it's a government-led response. That's the correct approach. Local authorities know the terrain and needs best. International aid should support, not overshadow, national efforts. Hope the affected countries recover soon.
"Nearly 11 million people impacted" – that number is staggering. It's a whole city's population displaced. The focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is critical to prevent disease outbreaks after such floods. The real test will be the long-term recovery and rebuilding of livelihoods.
Respectfully, reading about this massive disaster makes me wonder if our own disaster preparedness in Indian coastal and flood-prone areas is robust enough. We should learn from these tragedies. Early warning systems and resilient infrastructure are non-negotiable investments.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.