Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas emphasised the Government’s consistent view of building a society safe fromnatural disasters mainly based on risk control and prevention at a conferenceon June 20 reviewing natural disaster control and search and rescue work in2018.

The Governmentleader highlighted the good points in the natural disaster control work lastyear, particularly the regularly and timely provision of information on disasterforecast and warning, as well on measures to cope with and overcomeconsequences of natural disasters. Communication activities related to natural disasterstargeting the public have been intensified and improved through the combinationof modern means (the media, social networks, SMS) and traditional ones(loudspeakers, gongs and drums).

PM Phuc also acknowledged the good work in evacuatingresidents from dangerous areas, searching for and rescuing victims, providingreliefs to victims and preventing diseases after natural disasters.

Regarding limitations, the PM noted the gaps andoutdated rules in the system of legal documents, mechanisms and technicalstandards in the field of natural disaster control. Funding for overcoming naturaldisaster’s consequences has not been used effectively, while the private sectorhas not engaged actively in natural disaster prevention work.

He particularly pointed to forecast work which hadfailed to meet requirements in the context of increasing and complicatednatural disasters, and urged efforts to improve the work.

PM Phuc also instructed relevant ministries andagencies to continue refining institutions, policies and legal documents in thefields of natural disaster control, dyke management, post-disasterreconstruction and relief, and the fund for natural disaster work.

He required that resources be concentrated on naturaldisaster control, adding that priority should be given to projects on upgradingsea and river dykes, ensuring reservoir safety, and addressing erosion alongrivers and sea shore in the Mekong Delta and the central region.

Reports at the conference said 224 persons died orwent missing due to natural disasters in 2018, while economic losses amountingto nearly 20 trillion VND (858.87 million USD).

Since the beginning of 2019 to present, natural 23persons died or went missing in natural disasters, and economic losses wereestimated at over 337 billion VND.

Weather forecast said there would be fewer storms onthe East Sea in the second half of this year compared to a normal year, with10-12 storms to sweep across the East Sea, and 4-5 of which to land in Vietnam.The dry season may last until August or September in the central and south centralcoastal, posing a high risk of drought and saltwater intrusion. The flood levelin the Mekong Delta this year is said to be lower than the average.-VNA