Lao Cai people suffer from new cold spells

 The consequences of the historic snowfall last month still remain, the new cold spells have come, severely affecting the life of people in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province.

The enchanting scene in Trung Chai village, Y Ty commune, on a sunny day. But that romantic scene is covered by the yellowish color of dry dead grass and trees. The historic snowfall in December 2013 severely damaged the flora system here. Ragged woods are everywhere. Big trees are leafless while branches are broken by the unbearable weight of ice and snow. Fog covers leafless trees, making a deadly feeling as in a movie. A H’mong woman carries a basket of fresh wood to her home. This is unusual in Trung Chai village, where people strictly abide the practice of only picking dry firewood, and absolutely don’t cut fresh trees–to keep the forest. After the snowfall, they are allowed to collect fallen trees and broken branches to use as firewood. Fresh firewood piled up in many households, showing the influence of ice and snow to the forest. Not only damaging big trees, snow and ice destroy the low-layer vegetation. After snow melt, people have to witness the deadly yellow color of trees. When the aftermath of the snowfall has not recovered yet, a new cold spell comes. People warm themselves besides a firewood stack on the roadside. The biggest damage is that the entire cardamom forest died. Cardamon is the main source of income of the people in Trung Chai. They earn a turnover of VND12-15 million per hectare a year. 3–year-old cardamom trees are ready for harvest. Locals hope that the broken trees will sprout later; otherwise they will have to pay a lot for seedlings. Road-making equipment is temporarily immobile because of the weather. People have to maintain fires in the kitchen to warm themselves to withstand the harsh weather. A large pot full of buffalo meat in the house of Mr. Song A Chi in Trung Chai village. His buffalo– worth about $2,000 died on January 13, the seventh dead buffalo in the village, because of cold. 32 households in Trung Chai village are preparing for a difficult Tet since they lost the whole cardamom, vegetables and part of cattle and poultry. Children huddle in a class. Mountain kids are accustomed to the cold, but for now, going to school is a challenge for them. The road home of an elementary school pupil in Trung Chai.

Lao Cai people suffer from new cold spells