Warmth of human affection in the 'flood center' Thanh My

Empty-handed after the flood

The flood has passed but left behind for the peopleThanh Myshocked, because for decades, I have never witnessed such a rapid and high water level. Mr. Tran Kim Thanh (78 years old) in My Huong village said: "It must have been 40 years since I have seen such a terrible flood.

Thanh My Commune (Thanh Chuong) devastated after the flood. Photo: Cong Kien

No one had time to react, all belongings were swept away and damaged, fortunately there were no casualties. Indeed, when the water receded, it left behind a desolate scene on the roads and gardens. Families whose belongings were flooded were in disarray, and people, exhausted after days of "living with the flood", were struggling to clean up their houses.

My Luong is one of the most heavily flooded villages in the commune, most households are submerged in floodwaters. Ms. Tran Thi Dao (born in 1976) recounted: “The water rose too quickly, my husband was working far away, the mother and children at home could not manage in time. We only had time to bring a few clothes to a higher place and then evacuate, fortunately we received relief aid during the 2 days of flooding to have something to eat. When the water receded, the commune sent forces to help clean up the furniture and the house, otherwise it would have taken a whole week to finish. Now all the electrical appliances are broken, nearly 1 ton of rice is also wet, not knowing what to do with it…”.

Ms. Tran Thi Dao, My Luong village (Thanh My commune - Thanh Chuong) rebuilds the corn garden that was destroyed by the flood. Photo: Cong Kien

Most of the rice of Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh's family in My Huong village (Thanh My commune) was wet due to flooding. Photo: Cong Kien

Next to Ms. Dao's house, Mr. Tran Xuan Hien said: "My house is higher than other households in the neighborhood. When the flood started, I was busy moving things to help the neighbors. When I returned home, the water was already half way up the wall, I didn't have time to move anything, the rice was wet, the electrical appliances were broken, now I have nothing."

Along with My Luong, My Huong village was also deeply flooded, the damage was uncountable. Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh (66 years old) had children far away, her husband was hospitalized in Vinh, the flood came when she was home alone. Not strong enough to carry her belongings up high, Mrs. Thanh had to watch all the rice packed in the house and her family belongings gradually sink in the water.

Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh's house became an evacuation point for people in the neighborhood, many households brought their belongings, livestock, and poultry to stay. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Tran Kim Thanh, My Huong village (Thanh My) manages the items that have just been cleaned. Photo: Cong Kien

When a cousin and neighbor came to help, they could only move a few, while Mrs. Thanh lifted the tiles and sat on the roof waiting.lifeboat. And most of the people in My Huong village were surprised when the flood came so quickly, every house suffered property damage.

Many groups have brought relief goods to Thanh My to help people in the "flood center" area. Photo: Cong Kien

Mr. Hoang Tien Tho - Chairman of Thanh My Commune People's Committee said: "In the recent flood, the whole commune had more than 700 households flooded, 1 person died due toflood,The damage to crops, livestock, poultry and property cannot yet be counted. For now, people are focusing on overcoming the consequences, life will face many difficulties.

Warm human affection

After the flood, the scenedevastated, the house is messy and messy, but when we come to Thanh My, we hear stories and see acts of kindness that really warm our hearts. That will help the people here have more spiritual motivation to overcome the upcoming difficult times.

Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh’s house in My Luong village is still littered with sacks of rice, corn, and even livestock and poultry. These belongings do not belong to his family, but to neighbors who brought them there when the flood started, and have not yet been able to move them back.

People in My Huong village (Thanh My commune) receive relief goods. Photo: Cong Kien

A 2-year-old baby received a box of milk after the flood. Photo: Cong Kien

During the flood days, Mr. Thanh's house was located on high ground and did not receive much water, so it became an evacuation point for more than 10 households in the neighborhood. No one had time to transport rice, so Mr. Thanh and his wife cooked for the evacuated families for several days.

“As neighbors, we help each other in times of need. Everyone has times of difficulty, so we must always build relationships,” Mr. Thanh said.

For lunch today, Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh's family had sticky rice and braised pork, which after the flood days, can be said to be a dish that many people long for. These dishes were brought down by Mrs. Thanh's daughter who married and moved to Anh Son district.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh's daughter, My Huong village (Thanh My commune) from Anh Son district brought sticky rice to support her mother, Ms. Thanh shared it with her neighbors. Photo: Cong Kien

There was a lot of sticky rice, Mrs. Thanh shared a little with each family in the neighborhood as a token of her daughter's kindness towards her husband far away. Receiving the sticky rice dish after the flood, the people of My Huong village suddenly felt moved and warmed up, because now it was not just a dish but also a symbol of the love of their hometown and neighbors.

Thanh My welcomes a lot of people todayreliefcoming from Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, even from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to share the difficulties with the people in the flooded areas. The big and small trucks with meaningful banners are enough to bring confidence: "Cadres and People of Hien Ninh Commune, Quang Ninh District, Quang Binh Province, towards Nghe An", "I am from Le Thuy, Thanh Chuong - Nghe An, wait for me!", "Nghe An! We will come to you"...

“When we heard that Nghe An was flooded, people in my hometown immediately gathered relief goods to help the people. Because when my hometown was flooded, people in Nghe An helped a lot, that kindness will never be forgotten.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a resident of Le Thuy district (Quang Binh)

At the commune People's Committee headquarters, since morning, there have been many trucks carrying relief goods including instant noodles, rice, clean water, clothes and other necessities to support people who have just been flooded. The hall and offices of the departments and branches have become warehouses for relief goods, and the commune's receiving force is rushing to distribute them to the villages to reach each house.

Mr. Nguyen Gia Hong, My Huong village (Thanh My commune) suffered a stroke, his house was flooded, and is currently being evacuated at the commune People's Committee headquarters. Photo: Cong Kien

When the rice is wet, there is no clean water, and the electricity grid is cut off, these are extremely practical things, giving people the strength to get up and prepare and rearrange their houses.

During and after the flood, Thanh My people were not alone, there were always functional forces standing by to support each family. Today, Division 324 (Military Region 4), Thanh Chuong District Military Command and Prison No. 6 sent forces with a total of more than 200 officers and soldiers to Thanh My to help the people.

Officers and soldiers of Thanh Chuong District Military Command help Thanh My commune people clean up the environment after the flood. Photo: Cong Kien

Families with elderly and sick members are supported to clean their houses, tidy up and rearrange their furniture. That is enough to encourage them in these difficult and tiring days and to feel the warmth of human love…

“Currently, the commune has focused on distributing relief goods, overcoming the consequences of floods, cleaning up the environment, and preventing the outbreak and spread of diseases. People's assets, crops, and livestock have been washed away and damaged, and production will face many difficulties in the coming time. We hope to receive support for seeds and materials so that people can soon stabilize their lives and feel secure in doing business and production, gradually recovering after the flood.”

Mr. Hoang Tien Tho - Chairman of Thanh My Commune People's Committee (Thanh Chuong)