The northern province of Nam Dinh has been implementing a number of
measures as part of a mangrove plantation and disaster risk reduction
(MP/DRR) programme in recent years, helping local residents respond more
actively to climate change.
Nam Dinh is one of the ten
Vietnamese provinces to benefit from the programme, which has been
jointly carried out by the Vietnam Red Cross, the Japanese Red Cross
Society, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies since April 2011.
The province is one of the localities
most vulnerable to disasters during the flood season due to its
geographical features, which boost 91km of sea dykes and more than 300km
of river dykes.
The areas surrounding the Red, Dao, Day, and
Ninh Co Rivers, major riverine ecosystems, are particularly prone to
natural disasters.
Since the beginning of 2014, the MP/DRR
project has been implemented in 16 communes in the three coastal
districts of Giao Thuy, Hai Hau and Nghia Hung.
Apart from
providing the necessary equipment, the provincial Red Cross trained more
than 91,000 people in courses on disaster risk mitigation, climate
change adaptation, and rescue and first-aid skills.
In Giao Thuy
alone, the Red Cross worked with the local People’s Committee to protect
more than 625ha of forests in Giao An, Giao Xuan, Giao Lac and Giao
Phong communes and Quat Lam town.
It also built bridges, implemented early warning systems, and constructed drainage systems in many other localities.
At
the same time, two emergency response teams with more than 50 members
were set up in Nghia Hung’s Nghia Thang commune and Hai Hau’s Hai Chinh
commune. They were trained in rescue and first-aid skills and equipped
with the necessary tools, including lifebuoys, medical kits, and
torches.
Vice Chairman of the provincial Red Cross Pham Minh
Phuong said the project’s management board would soon complete and
inaugurate disaster resilience infrastructure and commence training
courses on climate change risk prevention and mitigation for teachers
and primary school students in Nghia Thang commune and Rang Dong town in
Nghia Hung district.
In addition to the MP/DRR project, Nam Dinh
is also implementing the Forests and Deltas project, funded by the US
Agency for International Development and Winrock International, on
climate change adaptation in Giao Thuy, Hai Hau and Nghia Hung
districts.-VNA