October 9, 2007, Hanoi, Vietnam - More than 50 people were killed and 14 missing after Typhoon Lekima and related floods and landslides cut power, closed roads, and destroyed homes as well as agricultural crops in a large swath of north central Vietnam this week. The provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh were still recovering from a typhoon that struck in early August when another hit last Wednesday, leading to days of torrential rains.

The Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An Provinces are the hardest hit. Reports estimate that 11,000 homes are destroyed, another 100,000 are submerged or damaged, and at least 75,000 hectares of agriculture fields have been damaged.

"The devastation and flooding is horrible and extensive. Particularly hard-hit are mountainous areas which are less prepared to handle these types of emergencies," said Greg Auberry, Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) country representative in Vietnam.

CRS has active programming and staff in three of the four most-affected provinces. In Quang Binh Province after the August typhoon, CRS had distributed 18,536 kg of maize seeds to 25 communes to help poor farmers recover. The seeds are not due to be planted until late October, and assessments are underway to insure they can still be planted given the latest typhoon.

Tomorrow, CRS will lead an assessment team to Ha Tinh Province. CRS is working closely with local governmental partners and the Nongovernmental Disaster Management Working Group to coordinate responses. Key members of this group include Oxfam, CARE, Save the Children and CRS, with representation from governmental institutions.

For more information, contact: Caroline Brennan, New Delhi, +91.93.50.96.79.99 Kat Burnside, Baltimore, +202.821.2663

### Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.