In 2017, Viet Nam was hit by 16 typhoons. More than four million people were affected by floods, mudslides and landslides caused by heavy winds and downpours. Thousands of houses were damaged, communities evacuated, and tens of thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed.
The coastal city of HCMC in particular has been affected by increasing incidents of weather related emergencies. The city and its 13 million residents are struggling with storm surges and
Photo: UNDP
To improve disaster preparedness and resilience, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development support schools to evaluate their disaster risk, design emergency procedures and conduct emergency evacuation drills. The activities are organized under the “Schools of Son Tinh” campaign, supported by the Government of Japan.
“Children, who hold the future of the country, are vulnerable to natural disasters. They should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves against natural hazards. Disaster preparedness should be integrated in the schools’ curriculum at all levels,” said Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Chief of Office, Viet Nam Standing Central Steering Committee on Disaster Preparedness.
Photo: UNDP
Japan leads the global efforts to prepare schools in high risk areas for natural disasters. “Raising awareness as well as preparing for natural disasters is one of the most important development challenges for Japan as well as other countries,” said Mr. Kazunori HOSOYA, Deputy Consul-General of the Consulate General of Japan. “Viet Nam is one of the top ten countries that are vulnerable to natural disasters. It is therefore very meaningful for every student to know how to behave appropriately in the case of natural disasters. In this sense, this project and campaign are very much helpful for all students in obtaining such knowledge and experiences. In addition, this project is not only aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development but also aligned with Japan’s ODA policy in Viet Nam,” he explained.
The school-aged children and students can make a significant contribution to enhancing the awareness and preparedness of a community by spreading their knowledge and skills to their parents, family members and others.
“It is important for them to learn to recognize the early signs of natural disasters and take active part in the evacuation drill to ensure the safety of their lives,” said Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Deputy Country Director in Viet Nam. “These drills help to improve disaster preparedness at schools and communities, and reduce loss of valuable lives and assets,” she added.
Photo: UNDP
Today’s drill in HCMC was observed by leaders and representatives of the Viet Nam Standing Central Steering Committee on Disaster Preparedness, UNDP, Consulate General of Japan, Ho Chi Minh City Committee on Disaster Preparedness, Department of Training and Education, and teachers of other schools.
Viet Nam is one of 18 countries participating in the UNDP’s and Japan’s regional project “Strengthening School Preparedness for Tsunamis in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The project is active in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Photo: UNDP
The regional project supports achieving the targets of Sendai Framework to reduce lives lost, numbers of people affected, and economic damage from natural and human-induced hazards. It also aims to achieve UNDP’s goal to help vulnerable regions to adapt to climate change by integrating disaster risk measures into national strategies./.