PARIS: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has announced an emergency assistance package of approximately USD 740,000 to support the protection of cultural heritage and the continuity of education in areas of Vietnam severely affected by a series of powerful storms in November 2025.
UNESCO said that Typhoons Wipha, Bualoi, and Matmo caused widespread devastation across the country, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, damage to hundreds of thousands of homes, and disruption in nearly 10,000 schools nationwide. In response, the organisation is deploying targeted assistance to help national and local authorities stabilise damaged cultural heritage sites and restore access to education for children and young people in affected regions.
In the cultural sector, UNESCO, in collaboration with Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and local authorities, is carrying out detailed technical assessments and implementing emergency protection measures at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hue and Hoi An, along with other cultural properties impacted by storms and flooding. These measures aim to prevent further deterioration and support long-term conservation efforts.
According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the initiatives are being funded through UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund and the World Heritage Fund. The interventions follow an integrated, risk-informed approach designed to strengthen disaster preparedness while safeguarding both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. UNESCO is also supporting the education sector by helping restore learning environments, ensuring the safety of school infrastructure, and enabling continuity of education in storm-hit communities.
The organisation reiterated its commitment to working closely with Vietnamese authorities to build resilience against future climate-related disasters.
