Project on Emergency Preparedness and Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities Launched in Central Vietnam

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DANANG, November 29, 2011 -- The U.S. Government today launched a US$711,000 project to support communities in the central region of Vietnam to plan for and respond to natural disasters. Central Vietnam is among the regions hardest hit by coastal hazards and most at risk of environmental degradation and climate change.

The 18-month "Increasing Emergency Preparedness and Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Central Vietnam" project, funded through USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, will be implemented in 24 communes in Thua Thien Hue and Danang provinces. Implemented by Save the Children in coordination with local governments, the project is expected to benefit over 200,000 people in vulnerable coastal communities.

According to Vietnam's Disaster Management Center and the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control, natural disasters in 2010 alone affected over 470,000 households and over 2,115,000 individuals, mainly along the Vietnamese coastline and lowland areas, causing an estimated $750 million in damages.

"Involving entire communities early on - including by educating children - is vital to Vietnam as it continues to face storms and floods that can adversely affect and displace families and slow longer-term development," said USAID Mission Director Francis Donovan. "We are pleased to be a part of this important effort." In partnership with Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Red
Cross, Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Committees for Floods and Storm Control, DMC and Hue University, the project will focus on:

  • Improving community preparedness;
  • Encouraging participation of community members;
  • Raising awareness and participation of teachers and children through school activities; and
  • Improving current early warning systems at community level.

"In recent years, natural disasters in Vietnam have been more frequent, severe and caused significant losses," said Save the Children Country Director Pham Sinh Huy.

"With this USAID-funded project, Save the Children will work closely with local partners, vulnerable local communities, and especially children, to better prepare for natural disasters by equipping them with knowledge and materials to reduce negative impacts of natural disasters, and to build a more comprehensive and effective model of child-focused, community-based disaster risk management in Vietnam," he added.

Through its activities since 2000, USAID has worked with the Government of Vietnam in areas of economic growth, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and vulnerable groups' access to educational and other social services. In total, USAID has contributed $510 million for relief and development activities in Vietnam.