Hanoi (VNA) – The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention andControl, in collaboration with the United Nations in Vietnam, held a meeting inHanoi on May 20 in response to Vietnam’s Natural Disaster Prevention andControl Day (May 22) with the theme “Joining hands for a society safe fromnatural disasters.”

The event,which saw the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, was broadcast liveon the Vietnam Television’s VTV1 Channel.

Accordingto Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, who is alsohead of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention andControl, many practical activities have been implemented nationwide in recentdays, such as the building of 400 flood-resistant houses for poor households incentral coastal areas.

Localresidents living in areas with a high risk of flashfloods and landslides inmountainous regions have been evacuated, while erosion in river banks, andcoastal areas in the Red River Delta region have been tackled, he noted.

Naturaldisaster prevention have been integrated with operations of agencies, organisationsand schools, along with swimming training for children, disaster forecastingand communications in the field.

Especially,media agencies have increased communications to raise public awareness and skillsof coping with natural disasters, said Cuong, adding that many enterprises,donors and international organisations have also supported needy people innatural disaster prevention and control, while localities have also appliednecessary measures in the field.

Meanwhile,Youssouf Abdei Jelil, UNICEF’s Representative in Vietnam, said that it isnecessary to make more efforts and give resources to enhance people’sresilience against natural disasters, especially among vulnerable groups suchas women, children and the elderly.

At the sametime, it is vital to help improve people’s skills in natural disasterprevention and control, while expanding the Government’s partnership withorganisations and people in the field, he said.

At the event,a seminar was held for representatives of the Vietnam Disaster ManagementAuthority, localities and enterprises. Individuals and collectives withoutstanding performance in natural disaster prevention and control were alsohonoured at the meeting.-VNA