Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Permanent Representative of UNDP to Vietnam Ramla Khalidi, and Vice Chairman of Yen Bai Provincial People's Committee Vu Thi Hien Hanh recently attended the inauguration ceremony of the new house of Ms. Bui Thi Tap - an elderly person in difficult circumstances in Yen Ninh ward, Yen Bai city, according to the announcement of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam.
Ms. Tap's house completely collapsed due to landslides after super typhoon Yagi in 2024. Thanks to the timely support of the Korean Government through the Yagi Early recovery and reconstruction project implemented by UNDP and local authorities, Ms. Tap's family has a new safe and solid home before this year's storm season.
That night, half of the hill collapsed and crashed into my roof. My house only has one wall left in the front, and behind the house, all the furniture and cabinets are buried. When I was supported by organizations with this amount of money to build door and house, I felt very secure. Whether I have to go to the doctor or stay at home, I will have a good night's sleep, no longer worrying about natural disasters, storms, floods or landslides like before" - Ms. Tap shared on the inauguration day of the new house.
Ms. Tap - over 70 years old, has cancer and depends on her husband's pension - is one of thousands of poor households in the northern mountainous provinces that have benefited from support to overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 (Yagi). This is part of a joint effort between UNDP, development partners and the Vietnamese Government to help people quickly stabilize their lives after natural disasters.
According to the announcement, UNDP has cooperated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the governments of Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen and Ha Giang provinces to implement emergency aid packages of the Cerf, UNHCR, Korean Government and Swiss Development and Development Agency for cash and essential items for more than 17,500 people, support for repairing and building 350 houses, construction of small -scale works such as roads, streams, streams. learn. At the same time, supporting livelihoods for 15 cooperatives and 158 business households and households.
Storm No. 3 (Yagi) caused serious damage to 26 northern provinces in September 2024, killing and leaving 345 people dead and missing, damaging 283,000 homes, and causing total economic damage of up to VND 81,801 billion. Immediately after the storm, the international community pledged to support Vietnam with more than 22 million USD. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has received more than 220 tons of relief goods worth 2.3 million USD from countries and international organizations.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized: The Vietnamese Government always puts people at the center of all policies to respond to natural disasters. The reconstruction after the storm is not only to support housing but also to help people have conditions for long-term stability and sustainable livelihood development. We are committed to continuing to closely coordinate with international organizations to provide the most practical and effective support.
UNDP is one of the United Nations agencies actively coordinating with the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention to implement 9 emergency aid projects with a total value of more than 4.49 million USD. The projects focus on 3 areas: Emergency support, housing reconstruction and livelihood recovery for people in disaster areas.
Ms. Ramla Khalidi - Chief Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, expressed her gratitude to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep for promptly directing members of the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) to assess essential needs for rescue, coordinate and plan response, as well as mobilize international solidarity to support affected households in the provinces.
Rebuilding after natural disasters is not only about rebuilding a house, but restoring trust and ensuring safety, UNDP is committed to continuing to accompany the Government and people of Vietnam in seeking comprehensive solutions, enhancing early warning capabilities and building better resilience to future natural disasters, said Ms. Ramla Khalidi.
