Soldiers help residents rebuild livestock pens.

Hoa Thinh commune in Dak Lak province faced devastating floods in mid-november, becoming the most severely affected area in the province. The disaster claimed 25 lives, nearly 40% of the provincial death toll, swept away 67 homes, damaged many gardens, and killed livestock and poultry. In response, more than 100 officers and soldiers from Military Region 5 have intensified efforts to clear debris, level ground, and remove rubble, helping households rebuild and reconstruct their lives.

On his visit to the province on 29/11, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for the launch of the "Quang Trung Campaign" to build homes for flood-affected residents before 31/1/2026. Dak Lak aims to complete all new homes before 15/1/2026, two weeks ahead of the Prime Minister's deadline. Each house costs 170 million dong, with 60 million dong subsidized by the State and the remainder funded through social contributions. The homes are designed for flood-prone areas, featuring elevated floors and flood-resistant platforms raised 0,2-0,5 meters above flood levels.

Soldiers are actively assisting with laying foundations, arranging belongings, and erecting bamboo shelves for residents to temporarily store household items while their new homes are built in Phu Huu village. Beyond housing, the military is also helping residents repair farm vehicles damaged by the floods. Hardened mud had jammed the wheels, requiring more than 6 people to push the vehicle to move it.

A group of soldiers arranges and moves belongings into a temporary military shelter while new homes await construction.

The recovery effort extends to essential services and personal aid. Hundreds of washing machines, refrigerators, and fans are gathered at the Dong Khoi historical site in Hoa Thinh commune for free repairs. Nguyen Ke Tu, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Refrigeration Association delegation, stated that his team has repaired hundreds of devices in recent days, with more than 90% being restored. The remaining items, severely damaged and lacking components, are difficult to fix.

Clean water access is another critical need. Hoang Trong Thanh Hoa, director of a water purification equipment company in Ho Chi Minh City, has been in Hoa Thinh commune providing clean water filtration for residents. Hoa explained that his gasoline-powered filtration system produces about one liter of clean water per hour. "I have some free time, so I'm taking this opportunity to help the community until their lives stabilize," he said.

Individual stories highlight the disaster's impact and the resilience of the community. Tran Trong Nghia, 43, is living in a makeshift tent, awaiting the construction of his new home. The recent floods destroyed his house, damaging many assets and causing hundreds of millions of dong in losses. In recent days, he bought light bulbs to install in the tent, providing illumination for evening activities. "Government support for rebuilding our home in time for Tet brings some comfort to my family and me," said Nghia.

At the Hoa Thinh Commune People's Committee, tons of essential goods and food from charity groups have arrived. The commune authorities assigned each village to transport aid to collection points at cultural houses, then distribute it to households. Ho Anh Van, involved in distributing aid in Hoa Thinh commune's villages, noted that the essential goods are quite diverse, including instant noodles, rice, and clothing. Most residents have not complained, and there has been no surplus of relief supplies.

Le Thi Huyen, 42, whose home collapsed in the floods, is currently living in a temporary military tent. Another section is set up as a kitchen and storage area for household items, along with supplies from benefactors. Nguyen Thi Trang, 45, had two clothing stalls at Hoa Thinh market submerged in water, causing many goods to fade and resulting in approximately 400 million dong in damages. In recent days, she has been washing the clothes, hoping to "salvage some remaining capital."

Soldiers, authorities, and residents of Phu Huu village, Hoa Thinh commune, are jointly rebuilding homes after the floods. As of 26/11, the floods in Dak Lak had resulted in 63 deaths and 8 missing persons. A total of 133 homes collapsed or were completely destroyed, and much infrastructure was devastated. Millions of livestock and poultry died, nearly 99,500 aquaculture cages and approximately 70,000 hectares of crops were damaged. Total estimated losses are close to 5,500 billion dong.

Bui Toan