Specifically, the Deputy Prime Minister met Mr. Andrew Jeffries, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam, Ms. Rana Flowers, Chief Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Viet Nam, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Viet Nam, Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Viet Nam.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development welcomed the heads of representatives from UN agencies and international organizations.
These are the 3 organizations that have worked closely with the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to conduct a rapid assessment on the damage and needs of the people in the central provinces post-storm and flood, from which support timely and effective for people.
At the meeting, representatives of international organizations sent their deep condolences to the loss of the people in the Central Regionof Vietnamin the last storm and flood event; they confirmed to accompany the Government of Vietnam in calling for the assistance of international organizations to join hands in overcoming damage caused by natural disasters.
Ms. Rana Flowers, Chief Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Viet Nam, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Viet Nam
Ms. Rana Flowers, UNICEF Chief Representative in Viet Nam, said that UNICEF has raised USD160,000 to provide emergency assistance of water, hygiene, sanitation, health, nutrition and education. The UNICEF representative also pledged to continue to support VietNam in water, sanitation, nutrition, health of women and children and so on.
Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident in Viet Nam
The UNDP representative appreciated the program of building 3,200 safe houses in the past two years, which has brought positive results in ensuring people's livesin the situation of floods and storms events; affirmed that in the coming time, UNDP will continue to coordinate with the Green Climate Fund and ADB to implement similar programs in Vietnam with a capital of about 30 million USD to help people response to natural disasters.
Mr. Andrew Jeffries, ADB Country Director in Vietnam
Meanwhile, ADB Country Director in Vietnam said that after the recent rapid assessment on the damage and needs for relief of the people of Central Regionin Vietnam, ADB is considering starting the 3 million USD package of Emergency Assistance. Mr. Andrew Jeffries affirmed, ADB will push to be able to approve this package soon.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung thanked the valuable support from ADB, UNICEF and UNDP organizations to Vietnam to overcome the severe loss of lives and property caused by the recent floods and storms event. The Deputy Prime Minister also highly appreciated the early assessment by organizations and agencies of the United Nations to assess objectively and fully damage from natural disaster.
“The support from international organizations in the last natural disaster eventas well as in the past years are very respectable, showing the concern and trust of international organizations to Viet Nam, thereby contributing to supporting Vietnam improve the capacity to response to natural disasters, early immediate overcome the consequences of natural disasters and earrly stabilize life, restore production for people in areas affected by natural disasters”, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, in the coming time, in addition to emergency assistance to meet the essential needs of the people, international agencies and organizations should coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to have long-term and methodical support programs and projects so that people can soon restore production and stabilize their lives. On that basis, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed thehope that ADB will soon activate the Emergency Assistance Package worth $ 3 million.
Facing the complicated situation of floods and rain, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung affirmed that the Government of Vietnam will focus and direct drastically to help people overcome difficulties. At the same time, VietNamwill continue to call for the cooperation of organizations, individuals, agencies and mass organizations, especially the support of international organizations to support people overcome difficulties and early stabilize their lives.
According to information from the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, up to now, international organizations, including UNDP, UNICEF and ADB have supported people in the Central region who suffered damage from recent floods and rains eventwith a total value of nearly 3 million USD.
