On October 11, in Hue City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in coordination with United Nations agencies and the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province organized a ceremony to celebrate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management with the theme "Empowering the Young Generation for a Disaster-Safe Future".
Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province - said that natural disasters have become one of the greatest dangers to all of humanity. In the first 9 months of 2024, the world witnessed many fierce and unusual natural disasters.
Thua Thien Hue is located in the Central region of Vietnam, and every year it often faces natural disasters such as storms, floods, and landslides. Typical examples include the historic flood in 1999 and the floods in 2020.
Faced with increasingly fierce and unusual natural disasters, disaster prevention and control work in Thua Thien Hue province is facing difficulties and challenges, requiring the joint efforts, contributions and attention of the whole society.
Children are the most vulnerable group to natural disasters and need special attention, and must have an approach appropriate to their age and awareness.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep informed that Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi) - the strongest storm recorded in the past 70 years - made landfall in the northern provinces in early September, leaving extremely serious consequences for Vietnam. More than 300 people died, thousands were injured, tens of thousands of houses were damaged and the total damage to the economy was estimated at 3 billion USD.
Even as the storm continued, not only did the sentiments of people from all over the country turn toward the North, but cargo flights continuously brought emergency relief supplies from all over the world, from the ASEAN bloc or distant countries such as Australia, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, India, the United States... to Noi Bai.
United Nations agencies, international organizations, and foreign non-governmental organizations also immediately conducted emergency needs assessments to activate support packages and implement commitments to help overcome the consequences of natural disasters and help people rebuild their lives.
"Although the support is only a small part of the needs of people in disaster areas, it shows the international community's concern and support for disaster victims. It is a testament to human solidarity in the face of natural disasters," said Mr. Hiep.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that this year's theme emphasizes the responsibility and role of the young generation in disaster prevention and control; the specific message is that the young generation needs to be responsible for their own safety and lives in the face of natural disasters. The young generation first of all needs to have enough skills and knowledge to ensure their own safety in the face of natural disasters. Then, with their own understanding, the young generation will spread and support their relatives and the community where they live and study.
