PM calls for greater efforts to cope with natural disasters

In his speech, the PM emphasized that Vietnam is one of the five countries most affected by climate change. Although the assessment of natural disaster prevention has obtained initial positive results, the government leader pointed out many shortcomings such as infrastructure facilitates unresistant to natural disasters, weak forecast capacity especially forecasts for rain, flood and landslide, illegal sand exploitation, and inadequate attention to national disaster prevention and control.

The cabinet leader underlined the need to build a contingent of skilled and responsible staff capable of doing well disaster prevention work.

Apart from increasing resources for the work , localities need to augment international cooperation, while paying heed to the communications work and personnel training in this field, he said.

The overwhelming guideline is to make society safe from natural disasters. Natural disaster prevention is a task for the entire political system and people by effectively using the State and private resources, he said while suggesting that natural disaster prevention should be integrated in socio-economic plans.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, each year natural calamities in Vietnam leave 400 people dead or missing and cause a loss of 1.5% of national GDP. 

This year will see about 12-13 storms operating in the East Sea and about 5-6 storms that will directly affect the mainland, the Ministry said.