Activity
A series of major storms and floods – No. 10, 11, 12, and 13 – in late 2025 devastated large areas of northern, central, and Central Highlands provinces, leaving tens of thousands of households submerged, losing property, and facing disrupted livelihoods. Persons with disabilities, who are among the most heavily affected groups due to limited mobility and reduced capacity to respond to emergencies, were identified as those in urgent need of assistance.
In response, the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC) promptly mobilized a VND 500 million emergency support package to help persons with disabilities reduce immediate hardship and gradually stabilize their lives. To ensure the assistance reached the households most affected, ACDC coordinated with the Vietnam Blind Association, the Vietnam Association for the Support of Persons with Disabilities and Orphans, and local partners to implement the package.
ACDC representatives provide timely support to blind people in Thai Nguyen Province affected by storms and floods
The support was distributed across 6 provinces/cities heavily affected by the disasters: Thai Nguyen, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa. In Thai Nguyen and Hue, ACDC provided assistance to 28 blind members, each receiving VND 1,000,000, based on the proposal of the Vietnam Blind Association. In Na Ri commune (Thai Nguyen), 18 persons with disabilities affected by the floods received VND 36 million through the Na Ri Association of Persons with Disabilities. In Khanh Hoa, 20 blind members continued to receive assistance in December 2025.
At the same time, through the Vietnam Association for the Support of Persons with Disabilities and Orphans, ACDC provided VND 300 million to 300 persons with disabilities in Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Tri (each receiving VND 1,000,000). In Gia Lai alone, 100 persons with disabilities in heavily affected areas received direct support totaling VND 100 million.
The joy of persons with disabilities in Gia Lai after receiving support from ACDC to overcome the impacts of storms and floods and rebuild stable lives
The distributions took place around the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), ensuring support reached families at the most critical time. Many reported severe hardship – damaged homes, lost livelihoods, and essential belongings washed away. Representatives in Da Nang, Hue, and Quang Tri affirmed that ACDC’s support was “timely, appropriate, and highly meaningful for persons with disabilities after the disaster”.
At one distribution point in Gia Lai, Ms. Vo Thi Diem, a woman with a mobility disability, shared the difficulties her family faced: both she and her husband are persons with disabilities; her husband works far from home while she cares for two children and her elderly mother. When the floods struck, her mother was injured, the family home was damaged, and soon after, their remaining property and small production facility were submerged. Overwhelmed by debt and the pressure to rebuild, she said emotionally:“This support is incredibly meaningful for my family right now. I will use it to cover our most urgent needs.”
In Quang Tri, many residents vividly recalled the sudden, life-threatening floodwaters. A person with a disability in Ai Tu commune said: “The floods rose very fast. I was alone, sick, and unable to move. Luckily, the commune brought a boat to rescue me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived.”
Ms. Dam Viet Ha – Deputy Director of ACDC – personally delivers gifts to persons with disabilities affected by natural disasters in Da Nang City
In Da Nang, Mr. Nguyen Minh Xinh, Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lanh Ngoc commune, reported: “Lanh Ngoc suffered extremely severe damage in the recent storms. More than 500 houses were destroyed or deeply flooded; total losses are estimated at nearly VND 30 billion.”
These accounts paint a clear picture of the severe losses and challenges that persons with disabilities face in the aftermath of natural disasters. In Thai Nguyen, a blind member shared: “Our home is often flooded, washing away furniture and basic household items. The most precious thing is to be heard and to receive support at the right time to get through the disaster.”
Persons with disabilities in Na Ri receive support from ACDC on the occasion of the 1st Congress of Persons with Disabilities of Na Ri, term 2025–2030
In Na Ri, many households of persons with disabilities were still struggling to stabilize life more than a month after the floods. Mr. Nong Van Chuan, Chair of the Na Ri Association of Persons with Disabilities, said:“Many households lost homes and property. This support not only helps them overcome immediate difficulties but is also a powerful source of encouragement for them to begin again.”
This support package demonstrates ACDC’s practical commitment to accompanying persons with disabilities – those who bear the greatest vulnerability amid the growing impacts of climate change and extreme weather. It also reflects ACDC’s consistent dedication to helping persons with disabilities overcome both immediate and long-term challenges.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh – Director of ACDC – personally hands over support to persons with disabilities affected by the historic storm and floods in Hue City
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director of ACDC, shared: “We hope this assistance will help persons with disabilities overcome immediate difficulties and feel more secure as they work to stabilize their lives. This modest support is also a commitment that ACDC will always stand by persons with disabilities in the most challenging times.”
The 2025 emergency response concluded with strong collaboration between ACDC and local associations and authorities. More than financial assistance, this effort delivers a message of empathy and solidarity – helping persons with disabilities strengthen resilience, rebuild their lives, and continue participating sustainably in their communities.
