The 13th storm (Vamco) blew the roofs off many houses in central Quảng Trị Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The UN would continue to support Việt Nam's response to the challenges caused by climate change, according to Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam.

Speaking at a Việt Nam-UN meeting on accelerating inclusive recovery and strengthening resilience to climate-related risk and disasters in Việt Nam earlier this week, Malhotra pledged further assistance to Việt Nam in improving its institutional capacity, and building strategies and plans on socio-economic development and post-pandemic recovery in healthcare and education.

The UN would also help the country consolidate dykes in its Red and Mekong Delta regions to cope with climate change-related challenges, while pushing ahead with the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, he said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung pointed out challenges and difficulties in natural disaster prevention and control in Việt Nam, saying natural disasters would adversely affect the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals in the country.

He appreciated UN organisations for their valuable support to the Vietnamese government since Việt Nam joined the UN in 1977, as well as during the country’s socio-economic development, especially the recent floods.

Representatives of ministries and agencies proposed a number of orientations and solutions for both middle-and long-term to help Việt Nam recover swiftly and raise its resilience to natural disasters.

They suggested upgrading the database on natural disasters and relevant equipment, improving the capacity of personnel working in the field, raising public awareness of natural disaster prevention and control, and expanding production models adaptable to climate change.

On this occasion, Trung called on the UN and development partners to tighten co-ordination with the Vietnamese government in this regard, saying the foreign ministry stood ready to accompany them in these efforts.

Flood aid

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has decided to grant VNĐ80 billion (US$3.46 million) in emergency aid from the State budget reserves this year to help people in the central region surmount the consequences of recent floods.

Quảng Nam and Thừa Thiên-Huế will receive VNĐ20 billion each to overcome natural disasters in Tây Giang and Phong Điền districts. The rest will be earmarked for Hướng Hoá and Đắk Krông districts in Quảnng Trị Province.

The PM ordered local authorities to use the funding for the right purposes and promptly distribute assistance to the needy.

Meanwhile, VNĐ80 billion had been raised for Quảng Trị as of November 17, according to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF). More than half of the sum had been received by the organisation.

President of the VFF Quảng Trị chapter Đào Mạnh Hùng said the organisation had handed over VNĐ6.5 billion to localities and 110,000 aid packages to flood-hit residents.

Quảng Trị bore the brunt of six floods and two strong tropical storms in October and November. Many schools were forced to close while hundreds of public works were destroyed. Thousands of houses were submerged or collapsed. — VNS