Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

On September 17, 2021, by the initiative of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), The Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG), Cash Working Group (CWG), Protection Working Group (PWG), Shelter Working Group (SWG), WASH in emergency Working Group, and Health in Emergency Working Group, the "Review of International Humanitarian response to the 2020 Natural disaster in the Central of Vietnam" was held in collaboration with the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership Office, aims to share best practices and lessons learned, recommendations to improve future disaster preparedness and emergency relief in Vietnam.



Central Vietnam had continuously suffered from strong storms and floods during October – November 2020. On October 28th, 2020, Typhoon Molave (9th storm) made landfall in Central Vietnam, one of the strongest storms to hit the country in 20 years and caused serious damage to this area. The Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) has recorded 230 people dead and missing, approximately 196,000 houses collapsed/damaged; over 400,000 houses flooded. Damage is expected to total $430 million, exacerbating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused an estimated loss of VND 28 billion (nearly $1.2 million) to Vietnam’s budget revenue.

In order to collect information on the damage and needs of affected population, Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership members including VNDMA, UN agencies, INGOs, VNRC… conducted a joint-rapid needs assessment in October 2020. The assessment found that the most common impacts were lack of food and non-food items (NFIs), WASH, shelter damage and health related issues… From the findings of the assessment, humanitarian organizations have utilized international funding for emergency response and recovery to support affected households in Central Vietnam.

Up until now, early recovery response projects funded/executed by 27 organizations are coming to an end. DMWG, Cash Working Group (CWG), Protection Working Group (PWG), Shelter Working Group (SWG), WASH in emergency Working Group, and Health in Emergency Working Group would like to support the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Partnership Office to organize a national workshop - Review of International Humanitarian response to the 2020 Natural disaster in the Central of Vietnam -  to share good practices and practical lessons learnt for advancing future emergency response in Vietnam. The event will be sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

In the context of strict compliance with government regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control, nearly 120 delegates from the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority, Federation of Hydrometeorological Assessment (HSF), Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), Vietnam Women’s Union, Sub-national Government organizations from disaster-affected provinces in Central Vietnam, International and national organizations, National DRR Partnership members, Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) members, WASH in emergency working group, Cash Working Group (CWG), Protection Working Group (PWG), Shelter Working Group (SWG), - Health in Emergency Working Group, Financial Service providers (FSPs), Representatives of People's Committees, Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention and Control at all levels, supply partners, Financial Services providers and local relief organizations in flood-affected provinces in Central Vietnam actively participated in online discussions, present and validate the learning study’s preliminary findings on emergency response projects to Central Floods – effectiveness, relevance, lessons learned, and recommendations for future responses.

On behalf of the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, VNDMA Deputy General Director, delivered the official opening speech of the review Workshop. VNDMA believes that the lessons learned from practice and recommendations from the participants of the workshop will make practical contributions and improve the efficiency and professionalism of natural disaster response activities in 2021 and the following years.

The Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) was set up in 1999 to support information sharing and coordination of relief activities. It meets monthly, with the objective of supporting hazard reduction and disaster management in Vietnam through improved information sharing and coordination of interventions among relevant agencies.

 

Nguyen Thi Xuan Hong

Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation