Typhoon Yagi snatched Hoang Ngoc Lan’s family from her
Experiencing heartbreaking loss, children separated from or who lost their families face exacerbated protection concerns.
- English
- Tiếng Việt
When Typhoon Yagi struck northern Vietnam, it left a trail of devastation that altered countless lives, especially for the youngest and most vulnerable.
Homes were swept away, families were separated, and many children lost the security they once knew.
Six-year-old Hoang Ngoc Lan is one of those children.
Lan’s world was forever changed by this climate-related disaster. “I don’t remember anything about the flood,” she says quietly. “I don’t know where my mum is. I miss her. My dad, my mum and my brothers…they all died in the flood.”
Now living with her grandmother, Lan holds onto the few constants she has left. Her teachers are pillars of support, offering her a sense of stability amid the chaos.
Lan can count on her grandma, but other children don’t.
Children separated or who have lost their families face exacerbated protection concerns, including risks of violence, exploitation and abuse, especially for young girls. For this reason, UNICEF and government partners stepped up efforts to increase the reach of child protection services, including through its joint prevention activities.
These included the distribution of child protection kits, made of essential items for hygiene and safety needs, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, raincoats, mosquito nets, boots and more, as well as leaflets for parents and children for protection and psychosocial care.
In addition, Lan received a backpack full of school supplies through UNICEF’s emergency response; essential to bring a touch of normalcy to her disrupted life. The new backpack is a symbol of hope, a reminder that there are people who care about her future.
Each day, Lan finds comfort in the familiar faces around her. Though her heart aches with loss, she continues to smile, drawing strength from her grandmother’s embrace and the kindness of those who have stepped in to help.
In the face of overwhelming tragedy, UNICEF continues to deliver life-saving assistance and support so that children can reclaim, at least partially, some of the normalcy they so desperately need.
No child should go through the heartbreaking loss experienced by Lan. With the support of their communities, children impacted by the typhoon will heal, albeit slowly.
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The child protection kits were generously supported by UK Aid.
