Rally in response to the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in 2023

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control delivered the opening speech at the ceremony.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said: 2023 is an important year for the field of natural disaster prevention and control in our country when Vietnam assumes the role of Chair in ASEAN cooperation on natural disaster management.

Therefore, this year's National Week was chosen with the theme "From response to early action" to demonstrate Vietnam's leading role and responsibility in promoting ASEAN cooperation in the field of disaster management - an important content in the ASEAN socio-cultural cooperation pillar.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, in recent years, natural disasters in our country have occurred in all regions across the country with an increasing trend, abnormal and fierce, causing heavy damage to people's lives, property, livelihoods and production, in which children are especially vulnerable.

Over the past 20 years, on average, natural disasters have caused over 300 deaths and missing people each year, with economic losses of 1 - 1.5% of GDP; in 2022 alone, natural disasters occurred abnormally, extremely, and irregularly right from the first months of the year and in all regions of the country with 21/22 types of natural disasters, of which 1,072 natural disasters were recorded, causing 175 deaths and missing people, with economic losses of nearly 19,500 billion VND (1.6 times the loss of life and 3.4 times the economic loss compared to 2021).

The Central region in general, and Quang Nam province in particular, have had to endure heavy rains and floods in recent years, accompanied by natural disasters such as floods, flash floods, landslides, etc., causing serious damage to people and property.

In 2022, Quang Nam province had to endure unseasonal heavy rains in late March and early April; 3 consecutive storms made landfall and floods followed, especially storm No. 4 (Noru) reached the strongest intensity of level 14-15, gusting to level 17, almost reaching super typhoon level in the East Sea, rapidly weakening and making landfall directly in Da Nang - Quang Nam on September 28...

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep acknowledged and commended the continuous efforts of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of the provinces, especially Quang Nam province, in leading, directing, mobilizing the participation of the entire political system and the active participation of the people, synchronously implementing natural disaster prevention and control activities in all 3 stages of prevention, response and overcoming consequences, effectively promoting the "4 on-site" motto in natural disaster prevention and control.

In addition to the rally, the series of events responding to the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control 2023 in Quang Nam also includes activities such as: Training for staff in charge of youth union and team work of secondary schools in the province on organizing extracurricular activities on natural disaster prevention and control in schools; Golden bell contests "Preventing and fighting natural disasters with me - Creating a sustainable future"; Painting contest responding to the year Vietnam takes on the role of chair in ASEAN cooperation on natural disaster management launched for secondary school students in Hoi An city.

These are very useful activities, contributing to spreading messages about disaster prevention and climate change to the community, especially children.

Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Ho Quang Buu - Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue spoke in response and committed to action.

Responding to the National Week of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province Ho Quang Buu - Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue hopes that the Departments, branches, and authorities at all levels in the province will pay more attention and continuously improve the capacity of natural disaster prevention and control management, minimizing damage caused by natural disaster risks in the sectors and fields under their management.

Especially in the education sector, we focus on integrating disaster prevention content into the curriculum and extracurricular lessons to propagate and disseminate knowledge to students, so that each student can develop proactive response skills appropriate to their age, and at the same time, they can be active propagandists in their family and society about disaster prevention; thereby contributing to building a safe and sustainable community against natural disasters.

Mr. Ho Quang Buu suggested that agencies, unions, authorities at all levels, social organizations, news agencies and newspapers in the province strengthen information and communication work; raise spirit and responsibility in natural disaster prevention and control; prepare response plans for natural disasters in 2023; at the same time, guide to improve knowledge and skills on prevention, response and overcoming consequences of natural disasters for the community, focusing on vulnerable groups.

He also requested local authorities at all levels, relevant departments and sectors to fully implement relevant contents on ensuring water security and safety of dams and reservoirs until 2030, with a vision to 2045; with the general goal of ensuring the quantity and quality of water for people's lives in all situations; meeting the water use needs for production and business of all sectors and fields, especially important and essential economic sectors; all people and all subjects have access to and use water fairly and reasonably.

At the same time, proactively store, regulate, exploit and effectively use water resources while ensuring the safety of dams and reservoirs; effectively respond to disasters and natural disasters related to water, adapt to climate change; protect the environment, and overcome the degradation, depletion and pollution of water resources.

Ms. Rana Flowers - UNICEF Representative in Vietnam delivered a speech in response.

Responding to the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Ms. Rana Flowers - UNICEF Representative in Vietnam said that the key to managing the impact of natural disasters is to focus on collective action - before disasters occur - ensuring early forecasting of severe weather; ensuring early action and readiness.

That also means taking action today to do everything possible to stop the progression of climate change - acting together, calling together, changing the way of doing things for a green, clean and safe Vietnam for every child, every citizen.

That means ensuring the right services, the right supports are in place so that when a disaster strikes, there is an immediate response - preventing deaths and outbreaks, providing safe shelter, supporting people to return to normal life as soon as possible - children are back in school, supporting them to overcome trauma and mental health challenges.

Delegates present gifts to students who won the Golden Bell Contest - an activity in response to the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control 2023

Ms. Rana Flowers also shared important messages to create a safer, greener and cleaner world for all children, including: Safety first; Green and clean; A safe, green and clean ASEAN.

Source: https://dttg.baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/mit-tinh-huong-ung-tuan-le-quoc-gia-phong-chong-thien-tai-nam-2023-357557.html