From response to early action in disaster prevention and control

On May 20, in Hoi An City (Quang Nam province), a meeting was held in response to the National Week on natural disaster prevention and control in 2023.

This is an event organized by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam and the Quang Nam Commanding Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue with the theme "From response to early action".

According to Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, the province is located in the Central Coast region. It is often affected by natural disasters such as storms, tropical depressions, floods and flash floods, drought, saltwater intrusion, riverbank and coastal erosion, and strong winds at sea.

From the beginning of 2013 until now, natural disasters have killed 131 people, injured 930 people, collapsed and damaged over 150,000 houses, and damaged many lakes, irrigation dams, and traffic bridges... From 2013 to the present, the total damage is estimated at over VND 21,000 billion, excluding long-term damage.

"Through the National Disaster Prevention and Control Week 2023 activities, I hope that departments, departments, branches, and authorities at all levels in the province pay more attention to disaster prevention and control. To improve the capacity of disaster prevention and control management and disaster risk reduction. In particular, special attention should be paid to integrating the curriculum content, equipping students with knowledge and skills, and helping them build a safer community before natural disasters," said Mr. Buu.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that, in recent years, natural disasters in our country have occurred in all regions with an increasing, unusual, and intense trend. Over the past 20 years, on average, natural disasters have caused more than 300 deaths, disappearances, and economic losses of 1.0 - 1.5% of GDP each year.

2023 is also an important year for the field of natural disaster prevention and control of our country when Vietnam assumes the role of Chairman in ASEAN cooperation on disaster management. Therefore, the theme of this year's national week shows Vietnam's leading role and responsibility in promoting ASEAN cooperation in disaster management - an important content in the pillar for socio-cultural collaboration of ASEAN.

"In disaster risk management, early action includes reducing the impacts of disasters on vulnerable groups, including children, and strengthening the capacity to prevent and respond to disasters through access to financial resources for early action", emphasized Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

Rana Flowers, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Vietnam, affirmed: "We will learn, develop and create a world where every child is safe, and living environment is protected and developed. ASEAN is a prime example of solidarity and resilience. Remember, children's dreams and ideas are significant. Your voice can change the world."