Thạch Hà District's police officers in the central province of Hà Tĩnh carry an elderly man to safety as flooding worsened in the area on October 19. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — New Zealand will commit NZ$170,000 (US$116,000) in humanitarian aid to help struggling communities in central Việt Nam deal with the consequences of the floods and successive deadly storms affecting the region since early October, according to a statement released Tuesday.

The New Zealand Embassy said the funds include NZ$150,000 for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and NZ$20,000 for World Vision relief efforts

 “Our sincere condolences go out to those communities and families affected by the flooding and landslides,” New Zealand Ambassador to Việt Nam, Wendy Matthews said.

“Alongside the relief work of the Vietnamese Government, this assistance seeks to help families meet basic needs and to help them begin rebuilding their livelihoods. It is an example of New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to supporting the people of Việt Nam.”

In the central region 235 people have been listed as dead and missing from typhoons and floods, which have also caused estimated economic losses of about VNĐ17 trillion, according to a Government report to the National Assembly on November 2. More typhoons are expected to make landfall in the central region in coming days. — VNS