In the last five years, around 400 people were killed by natural disasters in Vietnam every year. Also due to natural disasters, thousands of households have fallen into poverty, causing yearly economic losses estimated at from 1-1.5 percent of the country’s total GDP. Consequently, the mitigation of natural disasters has become one of the key tasks for Vietnam to maintain sustainable socio-economic development.

Since early this year, in addition to whirlwinds, hailstorms, flash floods and landslides, there have been 10 storms operating on the East Sea. In particular, tropical storm Katsana, one of the most powerful storms in the last 40 years, wrecked havoc on central and central highlands provinces.

How to control natural disasters

Being fully aware of this danger, in recent years, the Vietnamese Party and State have priotised natural disaster mitigation by allocating thousands of billions of VND to upgrading and building flood and storm control projects and warning and forecasting systems while finalising a legal framework, propagating and mobilizing the entire nation to prevent natural disasters. Meanwhile, localities need to upgrade infrastructure facilities, move people out of dangerous areas, re-zone residential areas along with socio-economic development and afforestation.

In the national strategy for natural disaster control and mitigation approved by the Prime Minister in November 2007, northern and north-central areas, central coastal areas, the Mekong Delta provinces and the central highlands region will build natural disaster control programmes called ” Absolutely controlling floods”, “ Actively controlling natural disasters” and “ Living with floods”.

Over the last few days, storms, flash floods and tsunamis have hit Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries in the world, particularly, in the Asia Pacific region. Vietnam and the International community are making joint efforts to minimise the impact of natural disasters.

In her speech delivered at a national forum on natural disaster mitigation and climate change, UN special envoy on natural disaster mitigation, Marageta Womstrom called on governments from different countries to take swift action to deal with the dangers.

 Marageta Womstrom also underlined the need to transfer technology and share experience and knowledge in natural disaster control as well as to boost effective coordination among sectors, governments, scientists and policy makers.

Promoting the role of mass media

The role of the mass media, especially Radio the Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Television, is very important in disseminating information on reasons and preventive measures of natural disasters and measures to prevent them.

When there is a storm or typhoon, VOV has become the sole means of communication to warn those in danger especially fishermen. Recently, the first phase of a broadcasting programme for the East Sea has been completed, bringing the voice of the Party and State to those at sea, and helping them cope with natural calamities in a timely manner.

Deputy Director General of VOV Hoang Minh Nguyet said that in future, VOV will continue broadcasting programmes on environment, science, and technology, and quicken the pace and frequency of news updates. The quality of news stories on preventing and mitigating natural calamities has been much improved. In addition, VOV will expand its coverage to every citizen in every corner of the country.

However, many localities seemed to be confused as to how to cope with the problem. Warning systems and infrastructure at localities are in need of improvement. As a result, it is necessary to set up a mechanism coping with natural disasters, mobilize human resources and integrate preventive activities into a plan for the socio-economic development of each region for a sustainable and safe Vietnam.

Vietnam is one of the nations, which has been hardest hit by climate change. Therefore, apart from activities to prevent global warming, the Vietnamese Party and State have attached importance to devising scientific-technological solutions to reduce the risks caused by natural disasters. Each citizen should improve their awareness and their behaviour toward the natural environment, limit the use of equipment that emits green house gases, grow green trees and protect forests.