In the context of storm No. 3 devastating the northern region of Vietnam, the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam issued a statement on September 13 saying: "In the spirit of sympathy for what the people in the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam are going through, Switzerland wishes to join hands to help ease the pain and support the recovery work."
The statement said that through the Swiss Humanitarian Relief Unit, the Swiss government will allocate 1 million Swiss francs (1.2 million USD) to help Vietnam recover from storm No. 3, and will send experts and resources to the center of the relief work.
"A team of six experts with extensive experience in water and sanitation, emergency shelters and disaster risk reduction is being deployed to Vietnam to support the authorities and affected people. In addition, Switzerland will provide essential supplies, including 300 tents and a water distribution system sufficient to serve 10,000 people," the Swiss Embassy said.
According to the statement, Switzerland is coordinating with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to urgently send these essential items to the most affected areas to provide immediate relief to those in need.
Switzerland is also an important donor to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Disaster Emergency Response Fund (IFRC-DREF), international organizations that play a key role in addressing current humanitarian crises.
According to the Embassy, the relationship between Switzerland and Vietnam has a deep foundation, built on more than 33 years of cooperation. Since 1992, Switzerland has contributed more than 650 million Swiss francs (765 million USD) to Vietnam's development, working closely with local communities to promote growth, improve public administration and promote environmental sustainability.
"The long-standing partnership between the two countries is based on mutual respect, and in times of need, Switzerland is always ready to provide support based on Vietnam's needs," the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam stated.
The embassy stressed: "In this difficult time, Switzerland reaffirms its deep commitment to stand with the Vietnamese people. We understand your pain, your loss, and your courage, and we are determined to do our part to help you rebuild your lives and your communities with the same resilience you have always shown."
