Forty storm-resilient houses presented to vulnerable families in Quang Ngai

"This is a practical way to help vulnerable people in disaster-prone areas. Quang Ngai in particular is subject to natural disasters,"said Mr. Tran Quang Hoai, Director General of the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Director of the Project "Improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Viet Nam".

Quang Ngai is frequently affected by natural disasters, including storms, floods and landslides. In 2017 alone, nearly 400 houses were damaged by typhoons and floods. Thousands of houses were submerged and residential areas were isolated due to swollen rivers. Such disasters seriously affect the lives of people in coastal areas and the poor who live in temporary and unsafe houses. Climate change is driving more frequent and intense weather events and sea level rise, increasing risk to communities.

"Normally the storm and flooding season starts from October to December in my province. But it is changing and unforecastable. Thanks for the great support, I am not worried about storm and floods anymore. My resilient house can be a safe place for the neighbours when storm and flood come," said Ms. Pham Thi Qua, a beneficiary of the project.Resilient housing is one of the most effective measures to reduce the loss of property and life. Therefore, in April 2018 the Prime Minister of Viet Nam decided to extend the implementation of Programme 48 to support households in the Central Region.

"Housing is the most valuable asset that individuals and families own, so the construction of resilient housing is essential to increasing the adaptability of households in coastal areas", said Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, Country Director for UNDP Viet Nam. "Importantly, there is support from the Government under Programme 48, support from the project, and the contribution of the households themselves. Communities are involved in all stages of building their safe home, such as identifying a suitable building site according to project criteria, selecting design, and monitoring the entire construction".

In addition to more resilient houses, the project has been organising training courses on community-based disaster risk management, which includes knowledge about safe housing and the requirements of a resilient shelter to cope with disasters.

Under the project, the new houses will be further protected by mangrove reforestation along the coast - an important natural buffer against typhoons, floods, tides, saltwater intrusion.

Quang Ngai is the first province to implement the national project "Improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Viet Nam". The Green Climate Fund-supported project is being implemented by the UN Development Program, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Rural and the Ministry of Construction between 2017 and 2022.

Joining recipient families at the handover ceremony were leaders of the Quang Ngai People's Committee, Viet Nam's Disaster Management Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the UN Development Programme, representatives of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Construction, Commune People's Committee, and the Women's Union.