ActionAid: Building a concrete bridge to help Ban Thang village avoid floods

Solid and safe are the comments and feelings of people in Ban Thang village (Tung Vai commune, Quan Ba ​​district, Ha Giang province) about the concrete bridge to avoid floods and landslides that ActionAid Vietnam is implementing to build in 2022. This bridge has helped people here no longer worry about floods and landslides during the rainy and stormy season.

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More than 20 international organizations participate in developing a disaster risk reduction plan in Vietnam.

Reduce your worries

Crossing winding and dangerous roads, on a misty morning in early March, we arrived at Ban Thang village (Tung Vai commune, Quan Ba ​​district, Ha Giang province). The winding stream separating Ban Thang village from other villages in the district forced us to cross a bridge to enter the village. The bridge is 2.5m wide and 9m long, built of reinforced concrete, with sturdy railings on both sides, ensuring safety for people to travel conveniently.

Concrete bridge leading to Ban Thang village. (Photo: Mai Anh)

As she led us into the village, Ms. Then Thi Cham (a Nung ethnic living in Ban Thang village) told us: Previously, the old bridge in the village was built in 2012 from two L-shaped iron beams, removed from the broken bridge on National Highway 4C. Due to poor construction quality and makeshift construction, the bridge quickly deteriorated: the iron bars were rusted; the two bridge pillars made of dry stone gradually weakened after many years; there were no special barriers on both sides of the bridge, which was dangerous for children and the elderly...

“During the rainy season, the flood water rises high and flows rapidly, submerging the bridge, completely cutting off the travel route for the villagers. Every time it rains for 3 days, we are completely isolated for 2 days. When the water recedes, the bridge over the stream is just two precarious iron bars. Everyone is afraid, but if we don’t cross, all daily activities will have to stop. Every time we hear the weather forecast that there will be rain and floods, my whole family is worried,” said Ms. Cham.

Not only Ms. Cham's family but most people in Ban Thang village share this concern.

One of two iron beams that make up the old bridge. (Photo: Mai Anh)

Realizing the difficulties of local people, in February 2021, ActionAid Vietnam supported more than 300 million VND to buy materials and more than 200 people contributed to build a concrete bridge across the stream. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was not officially started until August 2022. After more than 2 months of construction, the bridge was completed and put into use.

Since the new bridge was built, everyone in the village has been happy and excited. Mr. Lu Chieu Doan, a resident of Ban Thang village, said that the sturdy concrete bridge has helped him feel more comfortable and confident when crossing. He can ride his motorbike and carry heavy things across the bridge without any fear.

“Thanks to this concrete bridge, we are no longer afraid of being isolated during the rainy season. Daily activities, exchanges, trading, etc. continue as normal. My children can still go to school on rainy days. I hope more bridges will be built to make it easier for people in the village to travel,” Doan shared.

Implementing community-based models

The community-based disaster prevention model focuses on the active participation of community members in identifying, analyzing disaster risks, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating activities. This will reduce vulnerability and enhance the community's ability to respond and adapt to the impacts of natural disasters.

According to Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao, Chief Representative of ActionAid Vietnam, the concrete bridge model to avoid floods is one of the community-based disaster prevention models implemented by ActionAid in Quan Ba ​​district (Ha Giang province). After being put into use, the bridge helps more than 130 children in Ban Thang village go to school safely, creating conditions for them to study with peace of mind. At the same time, it helps local people access public services more easily, diversify employment opportunities, and minimize safety and security challenges caused by natural disasters.

Since the concrete bridge was built, villagers have been able to travel conveniently and safely, and no longer have to worry about being isolated during the flood season. (Photo: Mai Anh)

“Each village has different difficulties and different needs. Therefore, to ensure the most practical and suitable benefits for each area, in the coming time, ActionAid will continue to replicate the method, starting from surveying people's opinions, working with people to identify priorities and solutions, thereby supporting people to realize these solution models,” Ms. Thao shared.

Mr. Do Quang Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quan Ba ​​district, said that Quan Ba ​​district is one of the administrative units with rugged terrain, prone to landslides, flash floods, heavy rains, and whirlwinds, causing heavy damage to people's lives and property. With the support of ActionAid Vietnam and the Vietnam Social Security Program and Project Support Fund (AFV), since 2008, many community-based disaster prevention models have been deployed, such as: solar lighting model; organizing training on Disaster Risk Assessment with community participation; Disaster Prevention drills in communities and schools... More than 40,000 local people have participated and benefited. The total budget supported is up to 31.7 billion VND.

Mr. Dung hopes that in the next phase, Quan Ba ​​district will continue to receive support from ActionAid Vietnam and AFV in equipping people, especially young people, with knowledge on disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, renewable energy solutions, greenhouse gas emission reduction, etc. He also hopes that many new models will be implemented to improve the lives of local people.

A representative of the People's Aid Coordination Committee (PACCOM) - the focal point in relations and mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations said: In more than 30 years of operation in Vietnam, ActionAid has made many contributions to hunger eradication, poverty reduction and development support in Vietnam. Since 2002, ActionAid has begun implementing support programs in Ha Giang province, which have been highly appreciated by the locality, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people. In particular, the concrete bridge model to avoid floods in Ban Thang village was built in accordance with local needs, creating conditions for children to go to school safely. In particular, the implementation of the community-based project model contributes to raising the responsibility of the people and local authorities in protecting the environment and minimizing the causes of climate change.

In 2023, ActionAid became the 27th member and the 23rd international member of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership. (The Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership was established under Decision No. 3922/QD-BNN-TCCB dated October 11, 2019 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, with members including more than 20 international organizations and 4 ministerial agencies).

Implementing community initiatives for the community, fighting climate change in Soc Trang

Within the framework of the project "Young Vietnamese Generation Become Global Citizens" (ROTA) sponsored by ActionAid International in Vietnam (AAV), the Management Board of the Development Support Program of Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province, has just coordinated with Ke Sach district Youth Union, Youth Action Group for Sustainable Development Goals of Thoi An Hoi commune (Ke Sach district), Thoi An Hoi 1 Primary School and Ke Sach district Ethnic Boarding Secondary School to organize the activity "Communication to raise knowledge about the harmful effects of plastic waste for students".

ActionAid looks forward to continuing to support Vietnam in achieving its development goals.

This was the statement of Ms. Razmi Fatima Farook, Director of Global Programs of ActionAid International on Emergency Relief, in charge of Asia, during a meeting with Mr. Phan Anh Son, Vice President - General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) on May 31 in Hanoi.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/actionaid-xay-cau-be-tong-giup-thon-ban-thang-tranh-lu-197361.html