National disaster risk reduction forum proposed

Vietnam News: Viet Nam needs to establish a comprehensive forum on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation as part of the struggle to minimise the consequences of natural disasters, environmental experts said at a meeting yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said the forum would help governmental and non-governmental agencies and organisations exchange information, experiences and boost co-operation to reduce the vulnerability of disaster-hit areas and improve recovery abilities after natural disasters.

Hai urged representatives to discuss and complete the roadmap to establish the forum and submit the proposals to the Government in the future. As planned, the forum would begin work from October. As many as 35 nations worldwide have established forums to mobilise the whole population to reduce natural disasters caused by climate change.

At the meeting, representatives from five cities, including Ha Noi, HCM City, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Can Tho signed a commitment to join the United Nation campaign on strengthening investment in disaster risk mitigation, efficient and early alarm system construction and ecological protection.

…However, like other Asian countries, Viet Nam had low capacity to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. Asian countries were four times more vulnerable than Africa and 25 times more than Europe and America, according to the World Health Organisation's recent report. The joining of the campaign would make these cities safer and more resilient. Currently, about 80 Philippine cities and provinces have joined the campaign, she said...

A 2008 flood in Hanoi, shot by Bình Giang, who has released the image into the public domain