The heroes silently carry rice to supply people isolated by floodwaters

With enough food to go

" Let's have a hot lunch of the volunteer group on the flood avoidance road" - reading the message from Hoang, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuan, Head of Hoi Dien village (Nam Hai Lang commune), quickly called two more young men in the shock team to climb onto a small boat, rushed to the fields of white water to receive rice for the people.

Over the past 10 days, 70% of houses in Hoi Dien village (Nam Hai Lang commune, Quang Tri province) have been surrounded and isolated by floodwaters. People lived in an oasis with water on all sides. The kitchens were deeply flooded, making cooking almost impossible. The food reserves are gradually depleted, causing many families to fall into poverty.

The village has 50 households with 120 people. When the water rose, the 8-man shock team in Hoi Dien village immediately took action to help people move their property and save the alone anchor. No salary, no allowances, sometimes even have to pay out of pocket, but everyone is ready when someone needs them.

Since the flood, they have had the additional task of receiving rice, water, and necessities sent by volunteer groups. At 9am, Mr. Thuan received a message from Mr. Le Quang Hoang - Head of the Quang Tri pig Volunteer Club: "Hopefully, there will be a hot lunch, how many servings are needed?". After compiling the demand, he replied: "120 servings, the ferry will be available in 30 minutes".

The small boat squeezed through the deep fields, traveling about 10km to get to the meeting place. The volunteer vehicles were waiting, 120 meals including soup, meat, vegetables, water and milk were quickly transferred to the boat, covered with rain tarpaulins. Mr. Thuan thanked the people on their behalf and then started the engine and returned. The small boat ran to Hoi Dien and went straight to the house to avoid the flood, the people rowed the boat waiting to receive a portion of rice with a warm smile amidst the immense floodwaters.

The silent heroes

Not only in Hoi Dien, in An Tho village (Nam Hai Lang commune), 35 households with about 120 people are also in a similar situation of difficulties when food and drinking water are gradually depleted.

"It rained for a long time, the water rose, surrounded the whole village, and we could not go out. My family still has a few packs of noodles and drinking water that is almost out of stock. When I bought a boat, the water flowed rapidly, which was very dangerous" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (41 years old) shared.

Mr. Cai Van Thoi, a resident in the village, said that many volunteer groups wanted to support but the road was flooded and the water was rushing, making transportation very difficult. Not having to watch people go hungry, he and four young men, Nguyen Van Cuong, Nguyen Van Hanh, Ho Van Tan and Nguyen Van Nhat, formed a "flood shippers team".

Every day, they rowed a boat through the rushing water to receive rice, instant noodles, milk, drinking water... and then divided it among each household. Our group has made dozens of such trips. I hope no one is hungry or thirsty in the middle of the flood" - Mr. Thoi said.

The supply trips were a arduous journey. There are sections where the water flows strongly, causing the boat to tilt, tying a rope to the boat's body to avoid overturning. They go in the rain and wind, without remuneration, without honor, just with the desire to help people overcome difficulties. "Seeing our neighbors stuck in the water, with nothing to eat, we can rest assured. Seeing people laugh when receiving hot meals, all fatigue disappears" - Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong was moved.

Hoi Dien school (belonging to Hai Hoa Primary and Secondary School) was also deeply flooded, students had to stay home from school. Mr. Nguyen Van Huynh - the school's teacher returned to the village, joined the shock team, and along with 8 other people rowed a boat to carry rice, water, cakes, milk... to each house every day.

"Seeing the people running out of rice and water, I was very heartbroken. I have enough energy to contribute" - Mr. Huynh said, his voice thickened after many days of being in the rain. Every day, the group of teachers travels 34 trips, traveling nearly 10km of waterway, sneaking through each hamlet to bring the rice to the people.

Amidst the immense sea of unknown floodwaters, the shock boat drivers keep quietly sowing warm air, connecting the rhythms of love to overcome difficult days together.

Millions of arms turn to compatriots affected by storms and floods

Consecutive storms and floods have caused many deaths, missing and injuries; many houses and production and business establishments have had their roofs blown off and suffered heavy damage. People across the northern mountainous provinces and the central provinces are struggling to cope with floods and heavy losses in human lives and property due to floods and thunderstorms.

"A piece of food when hungry is worth a package when full", with the spirit of mutual love that has always been a beautiful image of the Vietnamese people, the Golden Heart Social Charity Fund calls on domestic and foreign philanthropists to join hands to share with people affected by floods to have food, clothing, shelter, students have books to go to school...

The Golden Heart Social Charity Fund would like to sincerely thank the precious feelings of agencies, businesses, and domestic and foreign philanthropists.

Please send any help to: Golden Heart Social Society Fund, No. 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Phone: 024.39232756. Account number (STK): 113000000758 at Vietinbank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi. STK: 0021000303088 - at Vietcombank - Hanoi Branch, STK: 12410001122556 - at BIDV - Hoan Kiem Branch. Or scan the following QR code:

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