Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai presided over an online conference
on March 28, reviewing the outcomes of natural disasters prevention and
search and rescue efforts nationwide in 2014 and initiating 2015’s
tasks.
Hoang Van Thang, Deputy Minister of
Agricultural and Rural Development, reported that natural disasters
occurred in a fewer number and smaller scale in 2014, compared to that
of recent years.
Overall, the disasters left 133
people dead and missing as well as 145 injured, causing a total damage
of 2.83 trillion VND (131.8 million USD). The Government aided affected
localities with more than 1.5 trillion VND (70 million USD), 2,000
tonnes of rice and some 1,700 tonnes of seeds.
Rear Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh, standing vice head of the Vietnam National
Committee for Search and Rescue (VNCSR), took note of the timely and
effective search and rescue operation across the country under his
agency’s instructions and monitoring.
More than 153,000 people and 5,000 vehicles were mobilised, delivering prompt services to save over 3,800 lives, he said.
This year, weather conditions will be further complicated with at
least nine tropical storms expected to hit the East Sea, including four
to five strong storms directly affecting the mainland, informed Hoang
Duc Cuong, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological
Forecasting.
According to Cuong, there will be
additional floods and landslides striking the Central Highlands region,
the northern and central areas, whilst the south is to be hit by severe
droughts and salination.
Participants pointed to
weaknesses, such as poor weather forecasts and impractical preparedness
in a number of provinces, outdated communication facilities in remote
mountainous areas, and limited investments in prevention and logistics
work.
Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai, who heads the
National Steering Committee on Calamity Prevention and Control, agreed
with those setbacks, urging local agencies to prioritise raising public
awareness and devising precaution plans.
Focal
2015 tasks include completing relevant legal framework as well as
scrutinising the national strategy on preventing natural disasters in
the context of global climate changes, among others, he declared.-VNA