Viet Nam: VNRC seeks to enhance disaster risk management skills

Ha Noi — The Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) launched a project for enhancing its capacity to handle disaster risk management and first aid at a ceremony today in Ha Noi.

The nearly US$500,000 project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will be implemented by the end of March 2017.

The project aims to increase the effectiveness of the coordination of the Viet Nam Red Cross in disaster preparedness and response and to ensure the sustainability of the provincial disaster response teams.

It will also help to strengthen the skills in disaster response and first aid of the disaster response teams at VNRC's headquarters and in Hoa Binh, Quang Tri and Bac Lieu provinces.

"The VNRC has played a key role in Viet Nam's response to and preparation for disasters throughout the country," American Ambassador Ted Osius said at the launching ceremony.

"This is why we are proud to step up our co-operation with the VNRC to enhance its capacity to safeguard lives, property, health and livelihoods of vulnerable people," Osius said.

The programme will support first aid, disaster risk management and climate change training at national, provincial and commune levels. It will benefit about 20,000 people in Hoa Binh, Quang Tri and Bac Lieu provinces.

VNRC Deputy Chairman Doan Van Thai said disaster preparedness and response was one of the four strategic priorities of the VNRC. Every year, the society conducts about 10 international projects on community-based disaster risk management that create good models for implementation of the Disaster Prevention Law and the government's 1002 programme. — VNS