People of Son Hai fishing village raise anchovies to send to flood areas

Although the fishing profession of the people of Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu) has recently faced many difficulties, however, unable to restrain themselves from hunger and cold due to being submerged in floodwaters for many days, the people of the fishing village stayed up all night to turn to the people in the flooded areas with all their affection. When the flood in the Central region occurred, the people of the fishing village came together to support and meticulously prepared dried anchovies with peanuts to send to the flooded areas.

Volunteers from Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district wake up early in the morning to prepare food to send to people in flooded areas. Photo: Thu Huong

Present since 7am on October 22, Ms. Nguyen Thi Long and the villagers gathered along the sea dike to make dried fish together. Ms. Long said: "These days, regardless of day or night, people who have peanuts bring peanuts, those who have fish bring fish, those who don't have any donate money to buy ingredients. All the villagers, with the spirit of supporting the people in the flood areas, everyone wants to contribute a little bit of affection to encourage people in the Central provinces to overcome difficulties."

The couple volunteered to process dried fish. Photo: Thu Huong

The dish of dried anchovies fried with peanuts and fish sauce is elaborately and meticulously prepared by the people of Son Hai. The main ingredients are dried anchovies, peanuts, fish sauce, oil, and spices. At the gathering point, nearly 100 volunteers each have a job, some roast peanuts, some fry fish, creating a bustling and busy atmosphere in the whole village. When the dish of dried anchovies fried with fish sauce is finished, the people carefully pack it into boxes and then put it in barrels to deliver to the people in the flooded areas.

Dried anchovies are brought by people for further processing. Photo: Thu Huong

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa shared: "People in the flood area now hope to have a meal. For many days, they had to eat instant noodles and dry food to warm their stomachs and relieve hunger. Now that the floodwaters have receded, relief work is easier. Especially when people get a boxed meal with this dish of dried anchovies steamed with fish sauce, they are extremely excited."

For nearly a week now, the Fatherland Front Committee of Son Hai commune has coordinated with local mass organizations to call for and mobilize people's support for the flood-hit Central region.

As of the morning of October 22, Son Hai commune people have donated more than 100 kg of anchovies and 200 kg of peanuts to make dried anchovies steamed with peanut sauce with over 1,000 boxes. In addition, Son Hai commune Fatherland Front Committee has also received 650 boxes of instant noodles, 150 boxes of fresh milk, 200 water tanks, 40 boxes of dry food, 150 kg of rice and a lot of clothes and shoes; in which the commune also received 50 brand new life jackets donated by a local son working far from home. The total value of the items converted into cash is 170 million VND.

Each person has a hand, some roast peanuts, some process them, everyone turns to the flood victims with a sincere heart. Photo: Thu Huong

Mr. Tran Van Hung - Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Son Hai commune said: "All necessities and goods supported by the people, the locality proactively used means to deliver to the people in the flood-hit areas of the Central region in time. Currently, the locality is also continuing to call on officials and people in the commune to continue to support to contribute to helping the people in the flood-hit areas overcome difficulties and soon stabilize their lives.

Fried anchovy with peanuts is a famous specialty of Son Hai coastal area. Photo: Thu Huong.

It is known that by October 22, the entire Quynh Luu district has donated and supported the Nghe An Provincial Fatherland Front Committee over 700 million VND. Currently, the Quynh Luu District Fatherland Front delegation has 16 trucks going straight to Quang Binh with over 100 tons of rice and local products such as fish sauce, peanuts, dried fish, milk, water, banh chung, rice balls...