Fire-red field kitchen cars in the flooded area, cooking more than 1,500 meals to support people

Self-driving kitchen cars roll into flooded areas

It has been 5 days since the self-propelled kitchen truck of Brigade 655 rolled into the flooded area of Dak Lak East. For 5 days, the fire in the kitchen was out for less than a minute.

Amidst the humid air, the sound of the logistics soldiers' knives and swords resounded regularly, becoming a warm sound to soothe the wounds of the people after the historic flood.

As soon as they received the order, the kitchen team of 6 officers and soldiers immediately moved to Hoa Thinh commune, choosing a safe location near the flooded area to set up a kitchen. Each batch of hot rice is cooked quickly but has enough nutrition. The cook could not finish his sweat in time, just hoping that the people's lunch would not be delayed.

In just 5 days, more than 1,500 meals were delivered to Phu My, My Dien, Canh Tinh villages... - places where many households were still in disarray and had not yet recovered from the flood. Each box of rice has enough meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, soup and is packaged in a heat-retaining foam bowl so that when it reaches the people, it is still warm.

Not only standing in the kitchen, the soldiers also wade through slippery roads to hand over each box of rice, sending the soldiers' affection to those in need.

In the damp kitchen due to rain, the most beautiful image is the scene of youth union members, women's unions of Hoa Thinh commune, teachers of Hoa Dong Primary School, employees of Tay Hoa Transaction Office Bank... joining hands to wash vegetables, divide food, and canned foods.

Union member Nguyen Ngoc Thien picked up the vegetables and said: "No one told anyone, seeing soldiers working from dawn, we wanted to join hands to provide the fastest food to the people".

Teacher Tran Thi Tuong Vy shared: During the big flood, every house lacked fire and food. Comparing energy with the kitchen is a joy, a way for us to share some of the difficulties.

Professional Military Captain Nguyen Cong Tien, who has been attached to the kitchen for the past few days, confided: "Seeing that people lack hot meals, we just hope to cook more and be more punctual. I'm tired, but seeing people welcoming rice boxes with all their hearts makes me immediately excited."

Present in the flooded area to direct the work of ensuring logistics, Captain Nguyen Huu Ry - assistant of the Military Region's Rehabilitation Department - affirmed: "During the flood, the logistics force - the military sector not only serves the soldiers but also has to take care of the people. Self-driving kitchen cars help us be proactive, cook quickly, and ensure the quality of meals in all conditions".

"The army is too attentive to the people"

In places where the water is still flooded, the family fire is turned off, the firewood is wet, there is no electricity, making cooking impossible. Therefore, when receiving the hot rice box, many people could not hide their emotions.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh (Hoa Thinh Commune) choked up: "The steam is still too hot, it's been a long time since I've had a smoking meal like this. The army is so thoughtful about the people".

Ms. Le Thi My Hoa said in tears: "In the past few days, the water has receded, there is no electricity, no water, and the firewood has been washed away by the flood, and there is nothing to cook. This box of rice came at the right time, as if saving my whole family.

Smiles return on people's faces - tired faces after many days of struggling with severe floods.

While the floodwaters have not yet receded, amid the immeasurable losses, each hot box of rice from the self-managed kitchen is a sharing, a warmth of humanity.