Storm No. 10 passed, the rain stopped but Ban Me stream (a branch of the Bac Giang river flowing through Thien Hoa commune) was still cloudy, rough and fast flowing, thick with mud from upstream. That fierce country, every rainy season, disrupts the dream of going to school of many students in the highlands.
Stopping the motorbike on the side, handcuffs on the knee, carefully wrapping the bag of books and documents in plastic bags, teacher Nong Thi Cham - a teacher at Na Quang school (Yen Lo Kindergarten) - cautiously stepped onto a homemade bamboo raft, asking people to row them across the river to get to class in time.
Amidst the strong water, bamboo rafts carrying students and people had to carry their own rafts, the sweat of the rafts was soaked, and eyes closed down to the other side.
Ms. Cham said that during the recent storm No. 10, the water rose too quickly and flowed strongly, sweeping away bamboo rafts. Many students, including preschool children, have to stay at school. More than 10 teachers could not return home. There are evenings when our teachers and students have to turn on oil lamps to sleep in class, their hearts are filled with anxiety when they hear the roar of water outside the windows. After the flood, although the water has temporarily receded, the flow is still extremely strong. People have not been able to rebuild temporary bridges, so every trip to the river relies on a fragile raft. "The water was flowing strongly, it was impossible to bring a motorbike. I parked my car on one side, then asked my colleague to pick me up on the other side to go to school. As for the students, their parents sent them to the boatmen, Ms. Cham said sadly.
Looking down at the whirlwind water, Ms. Cham choked up: "Every rainy season, Ban Me stream flows down heavily, cutting off the road to the flooded areas. The temporary bamboo bridge was swept away by floodwaters, teachers were isolated, and students had to stay at school, everyone was worried.
The only wish of teachers, students and people here is to have a solid bridge, so that the road to school is no longer separated by the floodwaters.
Ms. Hoang Thi Nhuyen - Principal of Yen Lo Kindergarten - said that the old Yen Lo commune currently has 4 schools, of which 2 have to go through Ban Me stream. This is a unique route, without a bridge, so every flood season, the 4 villages across the stream are almost isolated. The 16 teachers of the school also have to eat and sleep at school for many consecutive days, away from their young children's families.
Mr. Hoang Dinh Hien - Chairman of Thien Hoa Commune People's Committee - shared: "Thien Hoa Commune is located in a low-lying area, flooded every time there is prolonged heavy rain. The circulation of the recent storm No. 10 has caused many areas to be isolated. Students have to sleep at school or a public house, while teachers stay to teach, take care of their meals and sleep. There were nights when more than 10 teachers and many children had to spend the night in class, in extremely poor conditions.
According to Mr. Hien, when the flood season comes, fragile rafts become a constant obsession. Although the government has asked for support with more than 10 life jackets and asked parents and students to wear them every time they cross the river, the waves are fierce and unpredictable. What the people, teachers and the government are most determined to do at this time is to build a solid bridge. Just a bridge about 100m long, hundreds of students will be able to go to school safely, parents will have less worries about wings," Mr. Hien said urgently.
Millions of arms turn to compatriots affected by storms and floods
Consecutive storms No. 8, 9.10 (Bualoi) and floods caused by the storm have killed, left missing, and injured 165 people; many houses and production and business establishments have had their roofs blown off and suffered heavy damage. People across the northern mountainous provinces and the central provinces are struggling to cope with floods and heavy losses in human lives and property due to floods and thunderstorms.
"A piece of food when hungry is worth a package when full", with the spirit of mutual love that has always been a beautiful image of the Vietnamese people, the Golden Heart Social Charity Fund calls on domestic and foreign philanthropists to join hands to share with people affected by floods to have food, clothing, shelter, students have books to go to school...
The Golden Heart Social Charity Fund would like to sincerely thank the precious feelings of agencies, businesses, and domestic and foreign philanthropists.
All help please send to: The socialist fund of the golden heart, No. 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Phone: 024.39232756. Account number (STK): 113000000758 at VietinBank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi. STK: 0021000303088 - At Vietcombank - Hanoi Branch, STK: 12410001122556 - At BIDV - Hoan Kiem Branch. Or scan the following QR code:
