HUE FLOOD AFTERMATH: LARGE AGRICULTURAL LOSSES BUT NO

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001240 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS TREASURY FOR SCHUN HHS/OSSI PASS TO OGHA (WSTIEGER/LVALDEZ/CHICKEY) CDC FOR OGHA (SBLOUT/KMCCALL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO PGOV ECON EAGR SENV CASC VM SUBJECT: HUE FLOOD AFTERMATH: LARGE AGRICULTURAL LOSSES BUT NO EPIDEMIC REF: A) HANOI 1929; B) HANOI 1924 ¶1. (U) Summary. In the aftermath of the November floods that ravaged central Vietnam, effective co-operation between provincial health agencies and financial and food aid from the central government were essential to stabilizing flood-traumatized Thua Thien Hue province. Local officials assess that adequate supply of medical necessities (vaccines and disinfectants) and pro-active public health strategies (e.g., disinfecting railroad stations) have to date averted a major health catastrophe in the region. End Summary. Disaster-Prone Topography, Climate, and Demographics -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The five meters (almost 200 inches) of annual rainfall in the western highlands of Vietnam's Thua Thien Hue province produces a massive runoff that is exacerbated by the steep gradient of the region's rivers in their short 80 km (50 miles) descent to the coastal lagoon system. The region's 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) of lagoons, with only two outlets to the sea, function as enormous catch basins for flood runoff containing human and animal waste, carrion, and decaying plant matter. Hue city is a major tourist destination and the country's main rail and road arteries bisect the province, heightening the threat posed by epidemics. ¶3. (U) Health workers from the Thua Thien Hue Province Department of Health (DoH) and the Preventive Medicine Center (PMC) told DPO and EconOff November 29 that five waves of flooding compelled a range of public health efforts. Since only a little more than half of rural residents had access to clean water, preventing water-borne disease epidemics was the primary concern. Authorities administered oral cholera vaccine to 350,000 high-risk flood victims, especially those living near the lagoon system, and provided 10,000 liters of chloramine solution to disinfect contaminated wells. To forestall the spread of disease, mobile health teams staffed by DoH and PMC workers decontaminated bus and train stations filled with stranded travelers. To date the central government has provided the province with 65 billion VND (approximately four million USD) and 2500 tons of rice for flood mitigation efforts. ¶4. (U) Officials from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD),the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and the Animal Health Bureau (AHB) described agricultural losses, which include 1000 tons of rice, 300 tons of peanuts, 1200 pigs, and fifteen thousand poultry. While the fall harvest is over, it will be difficult to complete December planting for the spring harvest. Officials have vaccinated 100,000 livestock for hoof and mouth disease, and are conducting food safety and animal health inspections of abattoirs and marketplaces. "Cholera could break out tomorrow" -------------- ¶5. (SBU) As an indication of the tenuous nature of the status quo, however, health officials seemed genuinely surprised that they have averted a cholera epidemic, and repeatedly acknowledged that 'an outbreak could occur tomorrow'. Comment: -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Comment: USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has worked closely with Thua Thien Hue authorities, providing river flood warning alert systems and historical flood mapping and training on disaster mitigation. The central coast of Vietnam sees some degree of flooding every year, so provincial and national health agencies already have a history of co-operation. However, the degree of flooding this year put these arrangements to the test. In contrast to the central government officials' fixation on the term "acute diarrhea" (refB),regional officials did not shy away from "cholera" demonstrating that regional officials do not overtly share Hanoi's fears of imperiling agricultural exports. End comment. ¶7. (U) This cable has been coordinated with Embassy Hanoi. FAIRFAX