Vietnam responds to International Day for Disaster Reduction
The Vietnam Red Cross Society was selected to represent national organisations in Southeast Asia to host a meeting marking International Day for Disaster Reduction in Quang Nam on Oct.13.
Quang Nam (VNA) – The Vietnam Red Cross Society was selected to represent national organisations in Southeast 🌊Asia to host a meeting marking International Day for Disaster Reduction in the central prꦕovince of Quang Nam on October 13.
At the event, the World Disasters Report 2016, compiled by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, was announced.
According to the report, 98.6 million people worldwide were affected by disasters in 2015, with 92 percent of the disasters caused by climate change, particularly drought. Vietnam is among the top five countries bearing the full brunt of natural disasters and climate change impacts. The Southeast Asian nation is hit by between 10 and 15 storms annually, which inflict 50 percent of land and 70 percent of the population in vulnerable areas.
Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRSC) Deputy Secretary General Dang Minh Tien said natural disasters and diseases are on the rise, requiring more investment to mitigate losses.
The building of safe and resilient communities is also important, he noted.
VRSC has established a control office and a special taskforce for natural disaster response, along with a network of 31 response teams at provincial level and 200 teams at communes.
The society’s chapters across the country have built nearly 30,000 Red Cross Houses and relief goods storage in areas vulnerable to natural disasters.
Vietnam has also joined campaigns supporting natural disaster victims in the world.
The same day, hundreds of students in Muong Ang town in the northwestern province of Dien Bien gathered at an event themed “live to tell”, which also aimed to celebrate International Day for Disaster Reduction.
At the function, Deputy head of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Ha Son said Dien Bien is prone to earth quakes, severe cold spells, lightning strikes and whirlwinds.
Undertaking precautions against natural disasters could help minimise damage and raise public awareness on self-protection, he noted.
Official statistics showed that natural disasters cost Dien Bien 421 billion VND (18.87 million USD) in 2015 and 203 billion VND (9.1 billion USD) in the first half of 2016.
At the event, 15 gifts were granted for needy students with outstanding academic achievement.
The event was co-organised by Save the Children – an UK non-governmental organisation that has offered urgent aid to two million Vietnamese since 1990. In Dien Bien, it has carried out projects targeting school children, helping them understand more about disaster risk mitigation.
Held every October 13, the UN International Day for Disaster Reduction has promoted a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction since 1989.-VNA
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Hundreds of old people in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang and surrounding areas joined a meeting in My Tho city on October 13 in response to the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR).
Natural disasters could consume between 3 and 5 percent of Vietnam’s gross domestic product by 2030, according to the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) report from the UN.
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Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
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Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
Flood in central region (Illustrative image: VNA)
