Workshop discusses disasters

PHU YEN – The Viet Nam Red Cross Society and the Norwegian Red Cross held a workshop on reducing the risk of disasters in the central province of Phu Yen today.

The two-day event is being attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Education and Training, Phu Yen Province agencies, the National Red Cross Societies of China, Norway and Viet Nam, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as other organisations in Viet Nam.

Financial support of US$1.8 million from Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam and Norway's Red Cross groups have funded the project in 32 communes in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Lao Cai.

Ragnhild Dybdahl, deputy head of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, told the workshop that disaster risk reduction was a main target of Norwegian co-operation with Viet Nam.

During the three-year time frame for the project, more than 100,000 people have benefited from activities, including 697 local government officials and staff, 482 teachers and more than 18,000 primary school children.

For the next 30 years, Viet Nam is considered one of the 30 countries most vulnerable to disasters and climate change.

According to the Climate Change scenario, by 2100 the sea will have risen a metre, directly affecting 10.8 per cent of the Vietnamese population. – VNS