VNY2K - tintuc061299

WASHINGTON, and HUE, Vietnam, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- UPLIFT International, Korean Air and Project HOPE will airlift 25 tons of medical supplies to Vietnam in the wake of a hundred-year flood that struck central Vietnam on November 1, killing 1,000 people. More flooding on December 4 killed an additional 105 persons.

Korean Air responded to the call for help in November by offering free freighter services for cargo and travel for UPLIFT personnel, who went to Vietnam on November 28 to assess the spread of disease resulting from the flood.

``UPLIFT International undertook this airlift because of our longstanding commitment to the Vietnamese people,'' said Mark Schlansky, Chairman of UPLIFT. ``This is a truly international effort involving UPLIFT, our long-time partner-supplier Project HOPE, and Korean Air. It complements UPLIFT International's goal of fostering global social responsibility to fund and develop long-term medical education and healthcare programs in Southeast Asia.''

Schlansky and Dr. Beth Rivin, UPLIFT's Director of Health Programs, conducted an assessment of the health care system in Hue last week and were joined by Duane Scott, Project HOPE's Manger of Humanitarian Aid Projects, to move the supplies into Central Vietnam.

The human toll continued last weekend, with additional flooding in the region. While early reports focused on immediate suffering from the spread of diseases like dengue fever, diarrhea, flu, eye infections and respiratory ailments and from malnutrition, it is now clear that the entire healthcare system has been seriously damaged. Clinics and hospitals have been destroyed and medicines, supplies, and medical equipment were swept away or ruined.

Reuters in Hanoi has reported more than 750,000 homeless and thousands suffering from disease. Most roads are washed out, rice crops ruined, and livestock drowned in the earlier flood while last weekend's downpour also uncovered unexploded mines.

``The tendency is to think the crisis is over once the flood waters have receded, but that's just not the case,'' said Robert Burastero, Senior Executive Director of Project HOPE, noting the need for drugs to fight disease. ``In many senses, the crisis is just beginning.''

``This airlift is part of Korean Air's Global Responsibility Program that focuses on being a good neighbor in our global community,'' says Korean Air President, Y.T. Shim. ``Being the largest transpacific cargo carrier, we felt compelled to assist UPLIFT International with this important project.'' While most supplies are bound for Hue, Da Nang and Quang Tri Province, a small amount will go to Poor People's Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.

On November 29, the UPLIFT shipments began to move from the Project HOPE warehouse in Winchester, Virginia bound for Hue through Seoul, Korea and Ho Chi Minh City. Because of the urgent need for the medicine, UPLIFT International and Project HOPE committed to the airlift without funding support. Fundraising efforts continue, with donations to date by Unocal Corporation and a coalition of four Seattle-based non-profits: The Greater Seattle Vietnam Association, PeaceTrees Vietnam, Kids First and Prosthetics Outreach Foundation. The Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon and Hotel Sofitel Metropole are also donors.

Among the medicines and supplies, which have a wholesale value of $770,000, are:

Antipyretics
Antibiotics
Disposable medical supplies
Syringes
Sutures
Intravenous solutions and IV administration sets

UPLIFT International is no stranger to central Vietnam. In November 1997, UPLIFT International and Project HOPE donated $300,000 (wholesale value) of antibiotics for Typhoon Linda victims. In December 1998. UPLIFT launched a long-term medical education program with Hue Medical College and a telemedicine program linking U.S. and Vietnamese medical schools. UPLIFT and its partner, the University of Vermont, demonstrated the capabilities of telemedicine in Vietnam by directly viewing procedures live from the U.S. last winter.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution, contact UPLIFT International at 703-299-6100 or www.upliftinternational.org . For donations to Project HOPE, contact 800-544-HOPE or www.projhope.org .

SOURCE: UPLIFT International

From:	"Ai Phuong Ton Nu" <tonnuaiphuong@hotmail.com>
	TRUSTED PLACE FOR SENDING YOUR DONATIONS

Subject:	Re: TINKHAÅN: CÖ!UTRÔÏ ÑOÀNGBAØO MIEÀNTRUNG
Date:	Wed, 08 Dec 1999 15:48:41 GMT

Hi, every one,

I hope that the following message will be helpful to you and to answer
the following question of Ho Thanh Huong:

IS THERE ANY TRUSTED ADDRESS TO SEND THE DONATION TO?
Not only money. EVERYTHING. Money, Clothes, Household.....
As far as I know, we send our donation to the RedCross, some of the
organizations.overseas and in Vietnam.Last time, after the 3rd day of the catastrophe in Vietnam, the heaviest flood ever happened in Vietnam for centuries, I had gone to the Head quater of the Red Cross in Vietnam in 82 Nguyen Du street, I suggested that they' d better ask for their own website, where they can call on the other organization and people all over the world to send their donation to. I do not know if the work has been done successfully or not. I just received the email say thanks to me, and the next day I tried to ask for further information , whether they care or not, No Reply. I bet that there are more effective ways better than doing that. Right. So I do not want to waste their precious time any more. Now, the international UN, Thailand, Canada,France, US... all have given Vietnam a helpful hand, and hope that our Vietnamese people there can stand strong and can recover quickly. Hope this helps. But as a Vietnamse in person, I would like to think about this matter in narrow. (selfconcentrated). I want to question : Have you find out the best way so your money can come directly and fastest to those sufferers ? IS THERE ANY ANSWER?
Doctor Ho Dac Duy, my dear uncle, Thank you for your daily latest news .
Have you post the message to all which tell people the place to send the donation to, I think that better you found a donation fund, with your name Ho Dac Duy or so on. or make clearer the trusted place where all of your friends can rely and send their money to. Not through any overseas organization. But direct to Vietnam. I believe that will help a lot.
Not because I don't believe the Red Cross or other organizations. I just want to make sure that someone who we trust on will be responsible for this task: keep the money in safe place and ready to distribute it immediately when needed. Precious money then can come directly to the flooded victims and will help a lot. Now the weather is really cold in Hanoi, about 11 - 13 degree (C). And it frozen to the bone. Let think: How sad and miserable people are there in the Middle of Vietnam. They are now lacking of every basic needs.
I am sorry, I am Huong, the 25 y/o daughter of my father Ho Dac Hoai in Hanoi. Last time in November after the flood, I went to Hue with my friends to give my little help to the people in An Truyen village, my hometown village in Hue. Next 18th of December, after the day I take my English exam will go to the Middle of Vietnam.

Thanh Huong.

"Ai Phuong Ton Nu" Replies:

1/ I understand that su co Minh Tu is doing a lot to help the floodvictims in Hue. So she can be a good contact but I am afraid that she may be very busy now to handle everything by herself and her small team.

2/ There is another group called 'Huong Thien' in Hue which was established by Bac Sieu. I know that this is a non-profit group of Buddhist volunteers who gather together to help p oor people with the money from their relative abroad. From my mother, a member to the group, I heard that they have been doing a lot for the poor people, especially during Oct until now. They have gone to Quang Binh, Quang Tri to help the victims of the big storm in Oct. and during the last month with about $5000 that my aunt collected from her friends in US, this group has helped almost 1000 families in An Truyen (also where my grandparents and my father are from), Thuan An, Phu Loc , etc. If you need further information about how the group work, please feel free to contact my mother, she will explain more in details to you. Her contact address is:

Mrs. Le Thi Nuoi/ or Mr. Ton That Vien Bao
118/1 Thuan An, Vy Da - Hue
Tel.: 00-84-54-824517
She can also be contacted via my brother email: Aithy@vol.vnn.vn

3/ In addtion to the above mentioned groups and beside the Red Cross who is very busy now with the relief, there are also other groups such as Phong Kham Thuong Lac, or Doi Thanh Nien Cong Tac Xa Hoi Tinh Thua Thien Hue va Thanh Pho Hue who can be contacted for address via some one who live in Hue.

4/ In abroad, I know that many different groups of Vietnamese people and students have also organized themselves to collect money for the floodvictims. We are also involved in a small group in Oxford with the support of my college and the Oxford University who allowed us to use the Green College Charities Account to collect the donations. The money we collected will be transfered to the International Red Cross because we have to follow certain rules here if we wanted to collect much money from people. So far we have collected an amount up to 2800 GBP through our generous donors and different fund raising activities here.
We also tried to create a web page about our activities but the work go slowly because are not very good at this skill. Anyway, those who are interested in cooperation with and help us can visit to our temporary website to see our poster, though the information is out of date now.
We need to work a lot more to try putting in the update information but it will take time and maybe we will change the name of our website soon to make it more appropriate with updated information.
Our temporary website is: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~some1015/
Every one who would like to help Central Vietnam flood victims are most
welcome to join!

5/ Regarding cloths, medicine and other things: I am sure that su co Minh Tu and the Huong Thien groups can be helpful in delievering these things as well. But please check carefully if it is worthy to send these things because of high costs for shipping from abroad and there are rumors that these things are taxed by the customers (up to 25% of the value), which I am sure that those voluntary groups can not manage to find enough money to pay tax for these things.
Of course, that is the rumor but it's worth to check carefully with the Vietnamese Government. Perhaps someone who has good contact with the People's Committees or Fatherland Front can ask for their support in negotiating with the customers for tax-free in receipt of these things in Vietnam. It would be unfair to the flood victims and the donors abroad if people send things to help them and there those things get stuck in the
customers' store.
I would love to hear the news about this matter too because many of my friends in UK also wanted to donate cloths and other things. So please let me know if any of you have good news concerning the tax matters on donated cloths and other things.

With our love to all,

Ai-Phuong Ton-Nu

TRAÄN LUÕLUÏT MÔÙI ÔÛ MIEÀN TRUNG ÑAÕ LAØM THIEÄTMAÏNG 114 NGÖÔØI

VN (TH Dec6) - Nhaânvieân caápcöùu ñaõ coágaéng chuyeån thöïcphaåm vaø aùophao ñeán nhöõng vuøng bò luïtloäi ôû Mieàn Trung sau moät traän luõluït môùi tôùinay ñaõ laøm thieätmaïng 114 ngöôøi, 22 ngöôøi bò maáttích, hôn 1 trieäu ngöôøi laâm caûnh maøntrôøichieáuñaát. Daân trong vuøng naày chöa kòp thudoïn xong traän luït hai tuaàn tröôùc giôø laïi phaûi ñoáiñaàu theâm traänluït môùi.

Quaânñoäi VN ñaõ gôõi hôn 5000 lính mang vaätphaåm cöùutrôï ñeán vuøng naày ñeå giuùpñôõ daân bònaïn. Tröïcthaêng ñöôïc söûduïng ñeå chuyeânchôû thöïcphaåm cöùuñoùi khaåncaáp tôùi caùc tænh bò ngaäpluït naëngneà nhaát laø Quaûngnam vaø Quaûngngaõi. Hoâm chuûnhaät phicô tröïcthaêng ñaõ thaû treân 10 löôït ñoà cöùutrôï xuoáng vuøng luõluït cho daân bò naïn. Theo baùochí thì 5.000 boäïñoäi ñaõ ñöôïc taêng phaùi tôùi khuvöïc bò thieântai ñeå giuùpñôõ caùc naïnnhaân.Thaùng qua 7 tænh Mieàn Trung bò traän luït lôùn nhaát theá kyû hoaønh haønh, gieát cheát gaàn 600 ngöôøi, thieät haïi vaät chaát leân tôùi 240 trieäu myõ kim. Daâncö trong vuøng ñang doàn noãlöïc ñeå phuïchoài caùc sinh hoaït thì moät côn ta aùch khaùc laïi keùo ñeán.Theo tin khítöôïng thì trong nhöõng ngaøy tôùi seõ coøn coù nhieàu möa vaø caùc vieânchöùc chínhphuû longaïi soá thöôngvong laïi seõ taêngcao.

Uyûban Phoøngchoáng Baõoluït Quoácgia öôùclöôïng sôkhôûi chohay thieäthaïi vaätchaát ñaõ leânñeán 14,3 trieäu ñoâla. Uyûban naøy noùiraèng hieännay coù khoaûng 200.000 giañình ñangcaàn thöïcphaåm vaø nöôùcuoáng cöùutrôï. Coù khoaûng 194.000 ngoâinhaø vaø 71.630 hecta ruoängluùa môùi troàng ñaõ bò höhaïi hoaëc bò phaùhuyû. Vuøng naày ñaõ coù 592 ngöôøi thieätmaïng trong traänluït thaùng tröôùc vaø thieäthaïi vaätchaát 235 trieäu ñoâla. Hoäi Hoàngthaäptöï Quoáteá taïi VN ñaõ keâugoïi coängñoàng theágiôùi quyeângoùp 4,4 trieäu ñoâla ñeå giuùpñôõ naïnnhaân luõluït môùi.

Daânsoá Mieàn Trung coù khoaûng 7,5 trieäu ngöôøi. Ñaây laø vuøng ngheøo nhaát nöôùc vaø thöôøng xuyeân bò thieântai taønphaù. Taïi Tænh Thöøathieân, bò thieäthaïi naëngneànhaát trong traän luõluït vöøaqua, hieän coù 54.000 ngoâinhaø bò ngaäpnöôùc vaø hôn 100.000 ngöôøi phaûi taûncö. Hoäi Hoàngthaäptöï noùiraèng caùc giañình naïnnhaân raát meätmoõi vaø kieätqueä. Nhieàu noângdaân chæ môùi vöøa caáy xong hôn 400 taán luùagioáng vaø giôøñaây ñoä moätnöûa soá ruoängluùa môùi ñöôïc caáytroàng ñaõ bò nöôùcluõ cuoántroâi.

TIN LUÕLUÏT TÖØ MIEÀN TRUNG
(17 giôø ngaøy 5 thaùng 12, 1999)

Thöøathieân - Hueá

Hueá vaãncoøn möa to. Nöôùc ngaäpuùng nhieàu vuøng thaáp trong Thaønhnoäi nhö Taâyloäc, Thuaänloäc, Tònhtaâm, Phuùhaàu, Phuùcaùt. Hoïcsinh vaãn coøn nghæhoïc, nöôùc ñaõ ruùt heát. Theo tin töø Hueá ñaùnh ñi cho bieát thöôïngnguoàn Soâng Höông nöôùc ñaõ heát ngaäp nhöng vaãn coøn möa, ngöôøi daân ôû ñaây luùcnaøo cuõng thaápthoûm sôï nöôùc baátthaàn aäp tôùi. Giaù gaïo ôû Hueá luoânluoân giöõ ñöôïc giaù oånñònh.

Hoà Namgiang bò saïtlôõ khoaûng 10 meùt nay ñaõ chöõa xong. Giaothoâng Alöôùi vaãn coøn bò giaùnñoaïn. Phuùloäc, Höôïngñieàn, Phongñieàn vaãncoøn ngaäpluït tuy nheï hôn thaùng 11. Xaõ Phuùxuaân, Huyeän Phuùloäc coù 86 ngoâinhaø bò ngaäp, Höôngñieàn coù 16 caâysoá bôøsoâng bò saïtlôõ.

Bìnhñònh

Taïiñaây ñaõ coù 13 ngöôøi cheát, 8 ngöôøi bò thöông naëng. Theo baùocaùo sôkhôûi, ñaõ coù 300 caênnhaø bò saäp, 20.000 ngoâinhaø bò ngaäpchìm trong nöôùcluït. Caùc huyeän vaãn bò chiacaét chöa lieânlaïc ñöôïc. 6 canoâ ñaõ chôû löông thöïc ñeán cöùutrôï cho daân ôû vuøng bò coâlaäp. Ñoaïn ñöôøngsaét phía nam Ñeøo Bìnhñeâ bò saïtlôõ nhieàu choã.

Luõ queùt ôû Hoaøiaân laøm 80% nhaø daân bò cuoán troâi. Nhieàu nhaø ôû Anlaõo nöôùcluõ xuoáng nhanh vaø daânchuùng chæ kòp leo leân noùcnhaø "boû cuûa chaïy laáy ngöôøi". 1682 noùcnhaø chìmngaäp trong nöôùc. 7 ñaäp, 9 hoà chöùa nöôùc, haøng traêm caâysoá ñöôøng giaothoâng ôû noângthoân bò saïtlôõ. Toång thieäthaïi öôùctính 97 tyû ñoàng.

Quaûngngaõi

Ñaõ coù 21 ngöôøi cheát, 100.000 ngoâinhaø bò ngaäp saâu trongsuoát 3 ngaøy qua, hôn 200.000 hoä daân ñang bò thieáuaên trong luõ. Toaøn tænh vaãn coøn bò ngaäp trong luõ. Thòxaõ nöôùc ngaäp khoaûng 1m-1,5m.

Ñeâ baûoveä Soâng Traøkhuùc bò xoilôõ moät ñoaïn. Chínhquyeàn ñaõ huyñoäng 400 ngöôøi ñeå hoä ñeâ vaø vaùlaïi caùc ñoaïn bò vôõ. Caùc huyeän Sôntænh, Nghóahanh vaø Moäñöùc bò ngaäp naëngnhaát, sauñoù ñeán huyeän Töønghóa. Chuøa Phöôùckieán ngaäpluït coång tamquan.

Tröïcthaêng, xeloäinöôùc, canoâ vaø caùc ñoäi cöùuhoä ñang rasöùc cöùu daân vaø chyeån löôngthöïc.

Quaûngnam

Ñaõ coù 15 ngöôøi cheát, 150.000 noùc nhaø bò ngaäp. Nöôùc ngaäp töø 1m ñeán 3,5m.

Caùc soâng Vuõgia, Thuboàn, nöôùc vaãn leân cao. Huyeän Thaéngbình ngaäp naëng ñeán 3m. Thòxaõ Tamkyø ñang trong trìnhtraïng baùoñoäng vì gaàn Ñaäp Phuùninh. 1200 ngöôøi vaãn tuùctröïc taïi ñaäp ñeå naângcao vaø giacoá ñaäp. Hoà Phuùninh chöùa 343 trieäu meùtkhoái nöôùc duøng ñeå töôùitieâu cho 3/4 tænh. Neåu ñeâ naøy bò vôõ, ñaây seõ laø taihoaï lôùn cho Tænh Quaûngnam. Hoà Phöôùchaø ñaõ bò troâi phaàn töôøng traùn daøi 40 meùt.

Giao Thoâng

Maùybay khoâng ñaùpxuoâng Phuùbaøi ñöôïc. Caùc tuyeán ñöôøngsaét coù naêm ñoaøntaøu Thoángnhaát bò keït. Tuyeán ñöôøngboä cuõng vaäy, coù 5 ñoaïn bò ngaäp, naëngnhaát laø taïi Thaéngbình, Quaûngnam. Haønhkhaùch xeñoø ñöôïc ditaûn ñeán nhöõng nhaø cao.

Taátcaû caùc phöôngtieän cöùuhoä, maùybay, taøu caotoác, taøu cöùunaïn, phaocöùusinh ñöôïc huyñoäng ñeå ñöa ñoàngbaøo ñeán nôi cao, giaûmthieåu thieäthaïi cho ngöôøidaân.

Möa vaãn tieáptuïc rôi taïi Mieàn Trung. Löôïng möa caonhaát 1484mm, thaápnhaát laø 100mm.

Caùc baïn coùtheå bieát theâm tintöùc veà tìnhhình luõluït treân trang Web http://www.angelfire.com/ct/quochoc. Web naày seõ ñöôïc caäpnhaäthoaù moãi 12 giôø.

HO DAC DUY - VO XUAN QUANG - NGUYEN VAN SA - PHAM HUU HIEN - VO VAN CAN (Saigon)
LE DINH HANH - PHAN DINH NGAN (Hue)

Company Press Release

UPLIFT International, Korean Air and Project HOPE Launch Medical Airlift to Central Vietnam Flood Region

Effort Aimed at Disease Control Near Hue with 25-Ton Shipment

TRAÄN LUÕLUÏT MÔÙI ÔÛ MIEÀN TRUNG ÑAÕ LAØM THIEÄTMAÏNG 114 NGÖÔØI