Soldiers take part in the Quang Trung Campaign to build houses for people in Gia Lai Province, which was hit hard by storms last year. — VNA/VNS Photo

GIA LAI — The unusually high number of severe natural disasters in 2025 caused huge losses to people and property, especially housing in central and Central Highlands provinces.

Worries about housing weigh heavily on hundreds of households as Tết (Lunar New Year) approaches.

But thanks to the support and assistance of the entire political system from the central to local levels, the Quang Trung Campaign to rebuild damaged homes, and the cooperation of international organisations, many households in these areas now have new, spacious residences to welcome spring.

Safe housing

On the eve of the 14th National Party Congress, people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by natural disasters have received timely financial support for repairing or rebuilding their houses.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), provincial Party secretaries and People’s Committee chairpersons have directed the mobilisation of maximum resources and forces to help residents of hard-hit areas rebuild their homes.

The work is being completed as part of the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in an official dispatch launching the Quang Trung Campaign to rapidly rebuild and repair houses for families in the central provinces whose homes were damaged by the 2025 natural disasters.

Working day and night, including weekends and holidays, local authorities are determined to complete the rebuilding of houses that collapsed, were destroyed or swept away by floods, before January 15 so that families can celebrate the Lunar New Year in a safe place.

Earlier this month, localities had completed repairs to 34,759 damaged homes. Of these, Gia Lai Province accounted for 27,522 houses, Đắk Lắk Province 6,132, and Khánh Hòa Province 290.

The number of homes that collapsed and required complete rebuilding stands at 1,597, including 674 in Gia Lai, 606 in Đắk Lắk, and 144 in Đà Nẵng.

To date, construction has already started on 100 per cent of these houses. A total of 1,182 houses have been completed, reaching 74 per cent, including 496 in Gia Lai, 414 in Đắk Lắk, and 111 in Đà Nẵng.

Meanwhile, 415 houses, or 26 per cent, are under construction but not yet completed, including 178 in Gia Lai, 192 in Đắk Lắk, and 33 in Đà Nẵng.

Provinces and cities are continuing efforts to complete the remaining houses before January 15. Quảng Trị Province and Huế City have already finished construction on all new houses.

Many residents who received new homes expressed their joy.

Deeply moved by receiving her new house, Nguyễn Thị Khuyên from Khe Tre Commune, Huế said: "For the past few days, seeing the new house completed, I was so happy I could not sleep.”

“The officers and soldiers of Regiment 6, Huế Military Command, were very dedicated and worked diligently. No matter how harsh the weather was, they persevered, working through rain and wind to build our house. This touched my husband and me deeply,” Khuyên said.

Sharing the same happiness in her newly built house, Huỳnh Thị Kim Liên from Suối Hiệp Commune, Khánh Hoà Province said: “After the flood, our house was completely destroyed. Nothing was left but tears.”

“But then, I was very moved and grateful to receive support from the Government and officials in building a new house. Now I have a new house, I feel both tears and smiles. This Tết will definitely be warmer.

“Even in misfortune, there is still a silver lining. We are living in a new, cleaner house. The children are happy. Thanks to the support of the Government and the enthusiastic work of officials and soldiers, construction was completed quickly, giving my family more motivation to work hard and plan for the future,” Liên said.

Nguyễn Văn Tiến, deputy director of the MAE's Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control, said the Quang Trung Campaign has profound humanitarian significance.

This is a very urgent period, with a swift and decisive approach aimed at ensuring that people have safe housing, stable lives and places to worship their ancestors, and can celebrate the approaching Lunar New Year.

For the disaster prevention sector, this campaign contributes to promoting a faster and more sustainable recovery process, not only in restoring housing but also in strengthening essential infrastructure and enhancing community resilience, especially public trust in the Party and the Government.

Support from international organisations

Under the guidance and direction of the Party and Government, as well as with the efforts of all levels of government, from the central to local levels, and the joint efforts of the community, making use of international resources has been identified as an urgent requirement to provide timely support to people in affected areas.

The Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control has advised the MAE to mobilise international resources, and is working closely with embassies and international organisations in deploying emergency support to localities to help stabilise people's lives.

Đoàn Tuyết Nga, head of the department’s International Cooperation Division, said that through the coordination of the ministry, several embassies and international organisations have provided and committed aid in goods and cash worth more than US$23.8 million to 20 provinces affected by natural disasters.

This includes nearly $3.9 million in cash support for house construction and repair for nearly 4,200 households, helping people quickly stabilise their lives after the disaster, in line with the spirit of the Government's Quang Trung Campaign.

According to Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp, National Civil Defence Steering Committee member and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, this support is a valuable resource and much-needed timely assistance from the international community, helping residents in Việt Nam’s provinces and cities quickly rebuild their houses after natural disasters.

"We appreciate this valuable support and assistance. Through this aid, we can see the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation, working with the Government and people of Việt Nam to overcome difficulties and quickly stabilise their lives," Hiệp said.

Mobilising over $23.8 million in aid not only helps people in disaster-stricken areas but also upholds Việt Nam’s prestige and responsibility in international cooperation on disaster prevention, mitigation and risk reduction.

Thanks to the efforts of the Party, the State, the National Assembly, the Government, ministries, departments and localities, people whose homes were damaged or lost have been provided with solid, safe housing.

Life in the flood-affected areas has gradually returned to normal. Residents are happy with their new solid and spacious homes, and are once again contributing economically, working towards a prosperous life.

The year 2026 – the first year of the five-year term of the 14th National Party Congress, with the efforts of the entire Party, people and army – is expected to bring about new breakthroughs and successes, contributing to the rapid and sustainable development of the country, and improving the lives and happiness of the people. VNS