After the storm, what remains is hope
In Kinh Te village, Van Canh commune, Gia Lai province, the small riverside home of Ms. Nguyen Thi May was once a place where a mother and her daughter found shelter after enduring family hardships. But after just one night of the storm, almost everything was swept away.
Ms. May has been raising her fourth-grade daughter on her own since her husband passed away from a serious illness less than two years ago.
Accustomed to seasonal flooding, this year’s storm went far beyond anything she had ever experienced.
“Natural disasters and diseases truly cannot be predicted. I am now 45 or 46 years old, but this is the first time I have witnessed such a storm.”
When evacuation was announced, she and other villagers moved to the commune office. However, even the shelter could not ensure safety.
“At first, the water flooded the first floor, and everyone had to carry their mats up to the second floor. People were extremely panicked, afraid that if the water rose to the second floor, we wouldn’t know where to go or how to escape.”
When the storm passed, the house she returned to was no longer a home.
“After one night of taking shelter from the storm, I saw the devastation. At that moment, I could only cry because I did not know what the future would be.”
The roof had been blown off, part of the house had collapsed, and floodwaters swept away belongings. There was no electricity, no clean water, and no food. The two of them were left to start over from almost nothing.
“I don’t know how I can recover and return to a normal life.”
In the days that followed, she struggled to clean up while living in constant fear that the remaining part of the house could collapse at any moment.
“Every time a truck passes by, I feel like the remaining part of the house might collapse as well, so I feel very panicked.”
In that situation, timely support became a critical lifeline for her to begin again.
“Today I received 20 million VND from UNDP. I am very happy because after the storm and floods, this is the first large support I have received.”
Beyond material assistance, what she felt most deeply was emotional encouragement.
“I feel very happy. I feel that there are still many good things in life.”
The support helped her rebuild a temporary shelter, repair the kitchen and sanitation facilities — the basic conditions needed to continue daily life after the disaster. More importantly, it helped restore her sense of hope after a major shock.
“They bring hope and belief in life, that no matter how difficult things are, there are still many kind-hearted people in this world…”
Amid all the losses, her wish remains simple: a safe and stable home for her and her daughter.
“I only wish to have a small, simple house with a strong roof so that we can feel safe during storms and floods.”
Ms. May’s story is not an isolated case. Since February 2026, UNDP, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, the Gia Lai Red Cross, and local authorities across seven project communes, has provided emergency support to households affected by storms and floods, including:
- 1,920 households receiving multi-purpose cash assistance
- 293 households supported for house repair
- 1,000 households receiving essential household items
Funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the programme aims to help affected communities stabilise their lives and strengthen resilience to future disasters.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, emphasised: “This is a timely and meaningful assistance programme, helping many poor and near-poor households affected by storms and floods in Gia Lai province access financial resources and essential items to restore their homes and stabilise their lives. In particular, the support was delivered before the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, enabling families to prepare, repair their homes, and celebrate the traditional holiday.”
Sharing UNDP’s approach, Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam, stated: “Typhoon Kalmaegi caused significant damage to housing, livelihoods, and public services in Gia Lai province. However, what stands out is the strong sense of solidarity within communities. Through multi-purpose cash assistance, households are able to prioritise and meet their most urgent needs. At the same time, safe and stable housing is a fundamental foundation for recovery after disasters.”