The heartbreaking plight of the family of the man swept away by the flood.

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Ha passed away, leaving behind his frail wife and three young children. What will become of these children's lives now that they lack their father's care?

The single-story house belonging to Ms. Tran Thi Thoa's family is in a state of severe disrepair.

Visiting the family of Ms. Tran Thi Thoa, wife of Mr. Nguyen Vinh Ha (born in 1987) in Hamlet 16, My Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh District), who was swept away by floodwaters during the recent heavy rains, we couldn't help but feel heartbroken standing before their cramped, dilapidated, and severely run-down house. There wasn't a single valuable possession or household item inside. Mr. Ha's mother, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tin (75 years old), with a haggard face and wearing a white mourning headscarf, had no more tears left to cry for her son. Ms. Thoa was breastfeeding her son, her eyes vacant and unfocused.

Nguyen Vinh Ha is the youngest child in his family, orphaned at the young age of 9. His father passed away from a sudden illness, leaving four young children to his young wife. Due to difficult circumstances, Ha and his siblings had to drop out of school early to earn a living. Later, Ha decided to follow others from his village to the South to work as a construction laborer, where he met his wife, Tran Thi Thoa. Ms. Thoa, originally from Nam Dinh, also came to the South due to difficult circumstances, working various jobs to make ends meet. They married happily in 2008, but their life as a young couple was difficult in their rented room. However, they always encouraged each other to work hard. After some time, the couple decided to return to their hometown to live with his elderly mother in their old house.

Mr. Ha passed away, leaving behind his elderly mother, his young wife who is frequently ill, and three small children.

Life became more difficult when their two daughters were born. The land in My Thanh was barren and rocky, and two acres of rice paddies weren't enough to feed five people. So in 2011, leaving their eldest daughter, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, in the care of their elderly mother, Mr. Ha and his wife took their youngest daughter, Nguyen Thi Anh Hong, back to Saigon to find work. There, Mr. Ha worked as a construction laborer, while Ms. Thoa found work as a factory worker in an industrial zone. Once their jobs were stable, they brought Hong to live with them in the South. Then their third child, a son, was born, and their combined income wasn't enough to cover their children's education, so the whole family had to return to their hometown. Besides farming, Mr. Ha continued working as a construction laborer, while Ms. Thoa found work at a garment factory near their home. “My husband and I were planning to borrow some more money after the New Year to renovate the house because every time it rains, the whole family gets soaked, and the children lack a place to study. But he left me and our children so soon…”, Ms. Thoa’s voice trembled with choked sobs.

On October 15th, amidst heavy and prolonged rain, Mr. Ha, worried, went to check on his sweet potato field and was swept away by floodwaters. Mr. Ha passed away, leaving behind his young, ailing wife, three young children, and his mother, over 70 years old and chronically ill.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh is a student in class 2B and Nguyen Thi Anh Hong is in class 1C at My Thanh Primary School, while Nguyen Vinh Nguyen is not yet 2 years old. What will the future hold for these children without their father's support? The heartbreaking situation of Ms. Thoa's family urgently needs the help and support of the entire community.

Please send all donations and assistance to the following address.:

Nghe An Newspaper Editorial Office, No. 3 - Le Nin Avenue, Vinh City, Nghe An Province

Phone number: 0383.588138; fax: 0383.847898

E-mail:[email protected]

Or: Ms. Nguyen Thi Thoa, Hamlet 16, My Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province,

Ms. Thoa's phone number: 0966316905.

Thai Orchid