Massive Floods in Viet Nam - There was severe, horrific flooding in Viet Nam last week. Lives were lost and homes were destroyed as a result of Typhoon Lekima in Northern and Central Viet Nam. The provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ninh Binh seem to have seen the worst of the damage from the storm. Current reports are stating that there are fourteen people missing and the death toll is in the high sixties. Approximately six thousand Vietnamese homes are reported to be completely destroyed and over fifty thousand are severely damaged. Irrigation systems, roads and dykes have been obliterated and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is trying to help in this extremely dire situation. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese people are without homes, and many without food or clean drinking water. The IFRC website has pictures and accounts of their efforts in Viet Nam, and donations to their organization can be made directly through their website.

Separated Conjoined Twin Passes Away - The Vietnamese Siamese twins Duc and Viet Nguyen had become well known across the world when the conjoined brothers were separated nineteen years ago. The brothers were born in Gia Lai, an area of Viet Nam that had extreme exposure to Agent Orange during the Viet Nam-American War. You can read more about Agent Orange here. Duc recovered from the surgery, and went on to marry and lead a somewhat typical life. Viet suffered from cerebral palsy (diagnosed before the separation surgery) and has had health issues his entire life, leading up to his death this past Saturday at the age of twenty six. His brother has stated that he will continue to live his life in honor of his late brother.

Fighting Poverty with Education – Kids are going to school in Hai Krong, Ear Bia Commune, Phu Yen Province! Education is not traditionally revered in this area, and most children did not receive a formal education. The head of the village, Ma Vi values education and wanted to change his village’s notions about education, so he sent his sons and grandson to school and they have become positive role models for the village. More and more villagers are now sending their sons and daughters to school, and making positive strides to help their poverty stricken village.

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