Participants at the workshop. — VNS Photo Tố Như

NINH BÌNH — Strong, coordinated action from provincial leaders, commune authorities and local communities is vital to effective disaster prevention and early warning, experts emphasised at a high-level workshop held in Ninh Bình Province on Tuesday.

The workshop, attended by government officials and disaster management specialists, comes as Việt Nam faces increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, from flash floods to landslides. Participants agreed that preparedness must now begin at the grassroots, with empowered local teams ready to act quickly when danger strikes.

Nguyễn Xuân Tùng, deputy head of the Disaster Response and Recovery Division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said commune-level People’s Committees have been given greater authority to manage prevention infrastructure, distribute relief, and support agricultural recovery.

District-level administrations, meanwhile, are now responsible for evacuations, temporary housing and local disaster response funds. These reforms are part of a nationwide restructuring of disaster management, in which the disaster prevention and search-and-rescue committees have been merged into the Civil Defence Steering Committee at all levels—led by the prime minister.

At commune level, advisory roles have been assigned to economic and infrastructure offices to enhance capacity and coordination.

“These reforms aim to boost proactivity, shorten response times, and improve readiness as disasters become more extreme and unpredictable,” said Tùng.

As of July 1, Việt Nam transitioned from a three-tier to a two-tier local government system, making communes the frontline in disaster prevention—handling everything from public awareness campaigns and evacuations to dyke protection. A new circular from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, issued on June 19, has clarified responsibilities under this system, though further guidance is still needed.

Cao Đức Phát, Chairman of the Disaster Prevention Community Fund, highlighted the need for comprehensive preparation—including strong organisation, trained personnel, adequate equipment, and solid legal frameworks.

Under the new system, he said, early adjustments are essential to ensure a clear chain of command and sufficient resources at the commune level to deal with escalating threats.

Hạ Thúy Hạnh, Deputy Director of the Disaster Prevention Community Fund, described a three-phase model for commune-level disaster response: planning in advance, 24/7 monitoring and evacuations during disasters, and post-disaster recovery focused on safety and essential services.

Ninh Bình was praised as a national model, having already consolidated civil defence committees in all 129 communes and wards, established 66 local and nine provincial protection plans, created rapid response teams, and invested in early warning systems. These efforts enabled the province to avoid casualties during storm No 3 in 2025.

In Gia Phong Commune, Vice Chairman Đinh Thành Nam noted that while proactive steps have been taken since the system shift, issues remain—particularly limited forecasting ability, insufficient resources, and a lack of experience among staff. He called for clearer task allocation, better equipment stockpiles, upgraded monitoring systems, and stronger technical support.

Experts agreed that the path to a disaster-resilient Việt Nam by 2030 lies in strong coordination: provinces must lead and support, communes must implement, and communities must stay engaged.

Each year, natural disasters claim or leave missing an average of 240 lives in Việt Nam and cause nearly VNĐ30 trillion (US$1.14 billion) in damage—making prevention an urgent national priority. — VNS