Recovering after the flood

(Baonghean) -The flood came and quickly receded but left serious consequences for the people of Hoang Mai Town. Just excited and happy to become citizens of the town, now they are struggling to stand up and overcome the natural disaster. With the determination of the young town government, the attention and encouragement of agencies, departments and branches inside and outside the province, the people of Hoang Mai are gradually getting back to their daily lives...

These days, going to any alley of the communes and wards in Hoang Mai town is covered with mud, some sections are knee-deep, you have to get out of the car and walk. From morning to noon, Mr. Le Cong Chuc and his wife (living in hamlet 5, Quynh Trang commune) still have not scrubbed all the mud from inside the house to the yard. Located next to Hoang Mai river, the flood brought tons of gravel, mud and dirt into the house, but perhaps the most miserable thing is the pile of newly harvested rice, soaked and moldy with no place to dry. Having just escaped from poverty to near poverty this year, the couple did not have time to rejoice before the flood took everything away. "Compared to other households in the hamlet, my family's loss is nothing, but the family's situation is difficult, losing a sow, a few ducks, and a quintal of rice is a big deal. But what can we do, no one can predict natural disasters, now my wife and I have to try to make a living to raise our children" - Mr. Chuc confided sadly.

Looking at the pontoon bridge across Hoang Mai River, with only a pile and a few wooden planks left, students in hamlets 4, 5, 6... of Quynh Trang commune felt sad. For many years, to get to Hoang Mai High School, they have been walking on this pontoon bridge. "Although the bridge is still temporary, it helps us get to school faster, without having to go around in circles, which is a lot of time. I hope the government will invest in building a new, sturdy bridge here so that we can go to school with less danger and hardship" - said Le Thi Van - class 12B3, Hoang Mai High School.

Taking advantage of the sunny weather, every household rushed to put out all their blankets, bedding, and rice to dry. Outside, in the yard, there were so many things, all of them were wet. Just after pouring the moldy rice into the alley in front of his house to dry, Mr. Nguyen Ba Nghia in Thinh My block, Mai Hung ward explained: "The water came in suddenly, so everything in the house is wet, tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets are all damaged. We only have this much rice to eat, but it's moldy. After drying, it will probably be ground into bran for the pigs. For the past few days, my whole family has been cleaning until we're exhausted, but it's still not finished."

Joining forces with the people, agencies and organizations, from the youth union, women's union, to the police, militia... all joined in with great enthusiasm and spirit. From early morning, the officers and employees of the committee and the Quynh Di Ward Police came in large numbers to sweep and clean. Major Pham Ngoc Anh - Head of the Quynh Di Ward Police said: "This area is a low-lying area, so when the flood came, the water flooded the entire office. In order to not interrupt the work, everyone had to join in cleaning. There was so much mud and dirt that we worked from morning until now and still haven't finished." Having been on duty for the flood, helping people evacuate, and overcoming the consequences for the past few days, the ward police chief's eyes were dark and tired. But his voice and smile still reflected the strength and responsibility of a soldier devoted to the people and the country.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Nghia's family (Mai Hung ward) dried rice soaked in flood water.

After directing the recovery, counting the consequences after the flood, then going to check and review the equipment of agencies, schools, receiving aid delegations... in the past few days, the Secretary of the Party Committee of Quynh Phuong Ward - Nguyen Van Quang has been spinning like a top: "In the time of boiling water, burning fire, even if tired, we have to try, what can we do? Quynh Di Ward is one of the localities that suffered heavy damage from the recent flood, so the recovery and relief work is also extremely heavy and urgent". Up to now, Quynh Di Ward has lost 60 hectares of shrimp, 45 hectares of freshwater fish, 7 boats have sunk, hundreds of hectares of leaves and crops have been damaged, about 8,000 poultry have died and drifted away. In addition, two dikes to prevent saltwater intrusion at Long Thanh Service Tourism Area and the dike in Tan Dong block have broken. To support Quynh Di ward, from early morning, thousands of boxes of instant noodles, drinking water, and disinfectants from the Nghe An Provincial Red Cross Society, agencies, departments, and branches in the province were delivered to each block and household.

It was almost noon but the working atmosphere at the headquarters of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee was still very urgent, everyone was in a hurry and busy. One relief team after another came. Trucks loaded with instant noodles and drinking water headed straight to the communes and wards of Quynh Trang, Quynh Thien, Quynh Di, Quynh Lien... rolled out. Comrade Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of the Town People's Committee, Head of the Storm and Flood Prevention Committee, had been sleepless for several days worrying about flood prevention and control, and delivering relief goods to the people. "The recent flood has caused huge losses in human lives and property in Hoang Mai Town. The Party Committee, the Town People's Committee, together with agencies, departments and branches inside and outside the province, are making every effort to overcome the consequences and soon stabilize the lives of the people. Essential relief goods such as instant noodles and drinking water are being delivered to localities in a timely manner, absolutely not letting people go hungry or thirsty" - Comrade Le Sy Chien said.

The flood has passed, the human and property damage to the people of Hoang Mai Town is immeasurable. Therefore, in this time of extreme hardship and disaster, the people of the flood-hit area of ​​North Nghe An need sharing and help from agencies, unions, individuals and organizations in all parts of the country. The proverb "a piece of food when hungry is worth a whole bag when full" of our ancestors at this time becomes more meaningful and humane than ever.

Article and photos: Trieu Duong