Resolution on support for disaster-hit localities issued

Prolonged flooding and Storm Molave, the strongest one in 20 years, have caused heavy losses of life and property in the central region. Illustrative image

According to VNA, the Government on November 5 just issued Resolution No 165/NQ-CP on providing aid to address housing damage caused by natural disasters in central and Central Highlands localities in October.

Beneficiary provinces include Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.

Families with destroyed houses will receive a maximum of VND 40 million each, while those with houses simply in need of repair will receive VND 10 million each.

Chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees must review and classify the level of damage to housing in their localities and report to the Finance Ministry and Prime Minister before November 20.

Provinces not submitting a report before this date must use their own funds.

The Finance Ministry must work closely with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Central Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control to report to the Government on the use of the aid from the central budget in each locality.

The support must be provided in a timely, open and transparent manner, the resolution stated.

Within October alone, central Vietnam got struck by three floods, four storms and a series of landslides that claimed 159 lives and left 71 missing.

Responding to legislators’ questions at the National Assembly’s ongoing 10th session, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said on November 6 the Government will press on with overhauling regulations on natural disaster prevention and control and review climate change scenarios which will serve as the basis for building response plans.

It will also make a disaster prevention and control strategy for 2021-2030 and include climate change and disaster response contents in national, regional, sectoral and provincial planning.

More detailed flood and landslide risk maps will be drawn to serve evacuation, he said, noting that only large-scale maps were made while where exactly vulnerable places are haven’t been identified.

Particularly, the Government will strictly manage the building of socio-economic infrastructure in mountainous areas. These facilities must satisfy climate change response and disaster prevention requirements, and encroachment upon natural and protection forests must be minimised during their construction.

It will also order localities to upgrade reservoirs and dykes to ensure their safety, invest in anti-erosion facilities for river banks and coasts, build more anti-flooding houses in coastal central provinces, and improve shelter areas for vessels.

Additionally, the Government will work to promote the capacity of disaster prevention, search and rescue forces at all levels, and purchase more vehicles and equipment for the tasks, according to Deputy PM Dung.

Phuong Minh