Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership Year-end Meeting

Excellency Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

Colleagues from development partners and international organisations,

Distinguished guests,

Good afternoon.

It is an honor to serve as co-chair of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) alongside Vice Minister Hiep.  I appreciate receiving support from many of you on this nomination.  I just had a good meeting with the Vice Minister, and we are ready to jointly carry forward the work of the DRRP as Co-Chairs.  We count on the support of all DRRP members in order to effectively do so. 

At the outset, I take this opportunity to recognize the contributions of ADB, currently represented by  Mr. Shantanu Chakraborty, Country Director, and his predecessor Mr. Andrew Jeffries, who has co-chaired the DRRP in the last four years.  I acknowledge as well the efforts of MARD, especially the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA), the members of the DRRP, and national and international partners, including colleagues from the UN family. Your unwavering dedication and commitment throughout the year have ensured the well-being of people during emergencies and improved their ability to recover from emergencies.

Today’s end-of-year meeting  is both a time for reflection and also a moment to renew our commitment. All of us  share a common goal of building resilience and safeguarding the well-being of communities in the face of natural disasters. 

To kick off our reflections, I share the story of Mrs. Tran Thi Tinh, a 73-year-old resident of Phong Binh commune in Thua Thien Hue Province. Her livelihood is anchored in fishing and a small plot of cultivated land. A few weeks ago, heavy rain caused the Bo and Huong rivers to overflow, and flood levels were highest recorded in more than a decade. Several people perished, more than 17,000 houses were flooded, 85% of commune roads in the 36 affected communes were inundated, and a large number of livestock and agricultural areas have been destroyed.

Mrs. Tinh’s house was submerged in 1.5 meters underwater during this flood. Forced to navigate floodwaters on a small boat, with only a few instant noodles for sustenance, she faced the incredible challenge of tending to her paralyzed husband and ensuring the safety of her nephew.

In the meantime, the complex machinery of disaster response with all its bits and pieces in the country was running. Within a  24-hour timeframe, the Anticipatory Action Protocol was activated when the trigger point of forecast rainfall was expected to exceed 500mm. As a result, 731 households comprising 1,557 people, 65% of whom are women, in 7 communes of Thua Thien Hue province, including Mrs. Tinh, received timely cash assistance. This was possible because of  the pre-agreed coordination mechanisms between VDDMA, the Provincial Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (PCNDPC), local authorities, the Red Cross and the UN, to name a few.

Timely assistance provided through the anticipatory action project became the silver lining for Mrs. Tran Thi Tinh and her family. The project's cash assistance not only addressed their immediate needs of food and medicine, but also sowed the seeds of recovery and restored a sense of normalcy in the midst of chaos.

The activation of the early response measures during the flood in Thua Thien Hue province is a testament to the efficacy of anticipatory action in minimizing the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities.  It is also a testament to our collective capacities to efficiently respond to emergencies. By anticipating the needs of vulnerable communities and pre-positioning resources, we can significantly reduce the impact of disasters and expedite the recovery process. This would not be possible without the strong commitment of the Government, technical support from UN, and from INGO partners in Vietnam.

Looking ahead, we must explore innovative strategies to enhance our collaboration and the effectiveness of our disaster response beyond anticipatory action. This includes setting up systems to collect timely and reliable sex disaggrated data in emergency situations that can guide our response to the most vulnerable amongst us, especially children. Close collaboration within the DRRP, as well as with national and international partners, will be crucial in leveraging resources and expertise to build a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

As we embark on a new chapter in the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership, I am confident that with renewed commitment, our collective efforts will continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable communities. The story of Mrs. Tran Thi Tinh reminds us why and how our collective efforts have the power to transform societies -- where no one is left behind -- even in the face of worsening disasters.

Thank you! Xin cam on!