World Vision Readies for Typhoon Haiyan in Vietnam

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - World Vision staff are quickly changing gears as they prepare for the arrival of Typhoon Haiyan after it shifted course late last night. The storm is expected to bring 20 to 30 cm of rain to northern Vietnam, where several other tropical storms have recently battered the region.

Yesterday, World Vision staff and government counterparts helped move some 600,000 people to evacuations centres in Central Vietnam where the storm was initially projected to hit.   They worked alongside government counterparts in the lead-up to the storm, assisting to moving families to evacuation centres, providing families with food and water and sandbagging homes.

World Vision staff continue to carefully track the situation.

Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines last week, where up to 10,000 people are feared dead in the storm's wake. Gusts of 275 kilometres per hour, washed out roads, downed power lines, fallen debris and trees have made the recovery effort challenging.

Quotes:
"When Haiyan strikes North Vietnam, heavy downpours will add to risk of flooding and perhaps landslides as this region has already experienced numerous tropical storms in recent weeks," says Albert Yu, Communications Director for East Asia based in Hanoi.

"I've never seen such a violent force that destroyed everything in its path. It's really large scale. It's immense. We're still in shock. We lost power and water supplies. I was on the top floor of a building, and it was shaking. But instead of tremors from the ground, the force came from strong winds and harsh rains," says Aaron Aspi, an emergency communications specialist for WV Philippines, based in Cebu province.

Background:
World Vision is a child-focused humanitarian organization that works in 56 districts in Vietnam, supporting over 72,000 children in the sponsorship program.

With 55 years of experience in the Philippines, World Vision currently assists around 33, 000 children in 12 Visayan provinces and is current gathering resources to assist 1.2 million people (240,000 families) with items such as cooking oil and rice, hygiene kits, emergency shelter.

Canadians can:
Donate online at worldvision.ca or call: 1 866 595 5550

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca.

SOURCE: World Vision Canada

For interviews with aid workers, contact:
Julia Rim Shepard at 416-722-8770, [email protected]
Britt Hamilton at 416-419-1321, [email protected]