Members of theViệt Nam Red Cross Society deliver emergency relief to flood victims in Thái Nguyên Province. — Photo from VNRC

HÀ NỘI — In 2026, the Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s flood and storm prevention activities will shift from passive response to proactive prevention and early action while also integrating climate change mitigation and energy security solutions into humanitarian work.

The approach is expected to contribute to building safer and more sustainable communities that are better able to withstand the growing impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

Participants heard this direction at the Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s 2026 disaster prevention and response conference, organised by the VNRC in Hà Nội on Friday.

A representative of the VNRC said the organisation continues to face challenges, including lengthy resource coordination and aid procedures, limited staff capacity and uneven levels of technology application across localities. Adapting to climate change and emerging forms of natural disasters remains a significant difficulty.

At the event, hydrometeorology experts forecast that 2026 will be a transitional period between ENSO phases, potentially leading to an increase in extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides.

In response, the VNRC will prioritise expanding early action models based on forecasts, standardising relief procedures, strengthening the application of digital technology in management and operations and reinforcing reserve resources and on-site response capacity.

The Việt Nam Red Cross Society reaffirmed its commitment to comprehensive reform, improved operational capacity and greater efficiency in humanitarian work. It said it will lead a shift from reactive response to prevention and early action while linking disaster response more closely with climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy security and sustainable development.

At the same time, the VNRC will strengthen cooperation with ministries, sectors and international partners in climate risk assessment, the development of climate change adaptation plans to 2030 and the integration of nature-based risk reduction solutions, thereby enhancing community resilience.

At the conference, the VNRC also launched the Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation project, funded by the British Red Cross, along with activities for National Disaster Prevention and Control Week 2026 to raise awareness and promote action across society.

According to VNRC statistics, in 2025, amid extreme natural disasters causing damage exceeding VNĐ104 trillion and hundreds of casualties, the Việt Nam Red Cross Society continued to play a key role in humanitarian response.

The organisation and its network mobilised more than VNĐ1.2 trillion (over $45 million) and assisted over 500,000 people affected by natural disasters, calamities and epidemics.

It also reported a significant shift in approach from reactive response to proactive prevention and from traditional relief to support for sustainable livelihood recovery.

New models have been deployed effectively, including multi-purpose cash assistance, forecast-based early action, safe community models and nature-based solutions, helping strengthen resilience and community self-reliance. — VNS