HANOI – Thousands of children in northern Vietnam face significant obstacles in returning to school after devastating flash floods and landslides damaged homes, destroyed crops, and isolated entire communities, a charity warned on August 20.
The northern region of Vietnam has been hit hard by relentless heavy rains since early July, resulting in widespread destruction. The mountainous north-west, in particular, has borne the brunt of the flash floods, with nearly 29,000 homes damaged and 90,000 hectares of crops ruined, according to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office.
In Son La province, Save the Children reported that around 1.3 million people have been affected, with the countryside littered with debris from broken bridges and heavily damaged roads. Eleven people have lost their lives, and around 2,670 houses and 29 school buildings have been damaged.
As schools are set to reopen in September, approximately 4,500 children in the region are expected to face significant safety challenges while attempting to return to their studies.
“The recovery will take many months, and without immediate intervention, these children could face numerous dangers,” said Le Thi Thanh Huong, the country director of Save the Children Vietnam. The charity emphasized that the lack of infrastructure, including landslides and broken bridges, makes the journey to school perilous. Some children must even cross streams to attend classes, according to Ha Cong Minh, a school principal in Son La province.
Vietnam’s General Statistics Office reported that floods have caused approximately US$85 million (S$111.2 million) in damages in the first seven months of 2024, nearly double the damage figures from 2023. The adverse weather has claimed 91 lives or left people missing during this period.
The country is prone to downpours and landslides between June and November, and scientists warn that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly severe and frequent due to climate change.