Regarding this content, on the occasion of Vietnam chairing the 42nd meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and related meetings from June 13 to 16 in Da Nang, TN&MT Newspaper reporters had a conversation with Mr. Pham Duc Luan - Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Chief of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
PV: Could you please tell us what the topic "From response to early action" means in disaster prevention?
Mr. Pham Duc Luan: “Early action”, although a relatively new concept in our country, is essentially activities in the prevention and response phase to natural disasters that agencies in the field of natural disaster prevention and control have been implementing, such as checking safety works, evacuating people, raising public awareness about natural disasters and how to respond.
Previously, in 2022, the theme "Early warning, early action for all" was also unanimously chosen for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (October 13, 2022).
In disaster risk management, “Warning-based Early Action” is an approach with new elements in disaster risk management to minimize the impacts of natural disasters on vulnerable groups and enhance the ability to prevent and respond to natural disasters through access to financial resources for early action. Currently, more than 60 countries in the world have implemented warning-based early action programs.
Reporter: Sir, how have early warnings and early actions contributed to changes and created effects in natural disaster prevention in recent years in our country?
Mr. Pham Duc Luan: Thanks to early warnings and actions in natural disaster prevention and control as well as the shift from passive response to proactive prevention as stipulated in the National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to 2030, with a vision to 2050, in recent times, natural disaster prevention and control has achieved remarkable progress, especially in minimizing human and property damage caused by natural disasters, specifically in the 10 years from 2013-2022.
Human losses in the 2018-2022 period decreased by 18% compared to the 2013-2017 period (from an average of 244 deaths and missing people/year to 199 deaths and missing people/year). Economic losses in the 2018-2022 period decreased by 34% compared to the 2013-2017 period (from an average of VND27,695 billion/year to VND18,324 billion/year).
In addition, thanks to the focus on notification to ships at sea, there are almost no human casualties due to storms at sea.
PV: After 3 years of being affected by the La Nina weather pattern, El Nino will return. According to meteorological experts, El Nino can aggravate the impacts of climate change on Southeast Asian countries, causing increased droughts, heat waves, and forest fires. This year's storm season will be complicated, with the possibility of many unusually strong storms. Director, how do you assess the importance of ASEAN cooperation in disaster management?
Mr. Pham Duc Luan: ASEAN is a region vulnerable to natural disasters such as storms, floods, droughts, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions... According to statistics from 2012-2020, at least 2,916 disasters and natural calamities occurred in Southeast Asia, including several large-scale ones such as Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines in 2012; Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013; earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi in Indonesia in 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines in 2018 and Typhoon Damrey in Vietnam in 2017...
Faced with the complex developments of natural disasters in the ASEAN region, in 2005, the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) was signed by ASEAN members, followed by the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management in 2011 with the aim of enhancing cooperation among ASEAN members in coordinating disaster response in the region, while also being consistent with the One ASEAN, One Response declaration.
ASEAN’s efforts in cooperation on disaster management have contributed to enhancing resilience and reducing disaster risks for member countries; at the same time, in the spirit of solidarity, ASEAN countries are also committed to realizing the ASEAN vision of becoming a global leader in disaster management through exchanging and sharing knowledge and practical experiences; as well as contributing to global efforts on responding to disaster risks.
PV: Could you tell us, as Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, what activities has Vietnam implemented this year, especially in training and sharing experience in disaster risk management?
Mr. Pham Duc Luan: Since the beginning of the year, as the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in 2023, Vietnam has closely coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat, the AHA Center, ASEAN partners and relevant agencies to develop plans, implementation programs and mobilize resources to carry out disaster management and emergency response activities during the year.
From February 12-20, 2023 in Da Nang city, within the framework of the five-year term as chairman of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, Vietnam coordinated with the AHA Center to organize training for the ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) for disaster prevention and control officers of 10 ASEAN member countries.
This is one of the practical cooperation mechanisms in the region. ASEAN-ERAT was established by consensus of 10 ASEAN countries to enhance the readiness and capacity of member countries, ensure rapid, synchronous and unified response within the bloc, and promote the region's combined strength in supporting member countries affected by disasters and natural disasters.
Members of ASEAN-ERAT teams have always been at the core of relief operations, such as the relief efforts in Myanmar after the recent typhoon MOCHA.
In order to share our experience in disaster prevention and mitigation as well as achievements in disaster risk reduction with countries in the region, we have also planned to organize a number of Workshops, Professional Forums and site visits for representatives of disaster prevention agencies in key areas of disaster prevention, as well as large and important disaster prevention projects in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta region.
There are many other jobs that I can hardly mention here, but I affirm that 2023 will be the year that our Vietnam leaves many memorable milestones in the eyes of the international community in the field of disaster management.
PV: Could you please share about the Vietnamese Government's expectations in ASEAN cooperation on disaster prevention and control?
Mr. Pham Duc Luan: 2023 is the year Vietnam takes on the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, therefore, Vietnam will play the role of an effective bridge, promoting strong cooperation between ASEAN and countries in the Asia-Pacific region on strategic solutions to address multiple risks at the same time, mobilizing resources to fully and effectively implement the Work Programme of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response for the period 2021-2025, ensuring to meet the set requirements.
Vietnam’s “proactive, positive and responsible” spirit in ASEAN cooperation in general will continue to be promoted in cooperation on disaster management. Vietnam strives to demonstrate its leading role in ASEAN not only in the fields of security and economy but also in the socio-cultural aspect, in this case ensuring safety for the community against natural disasters.
Regarding ASEAN cooperation in disaster prevention and control, Vietnam hopes that relations, dialogue and coordination with ASEAN countries and other agencies and organizations in responding to natural disasters, especially major disasters that affect many countries in the region, will be enhanced, towards the declaration of One ASEAN, One Response.
At the same time, the sharing of resources, information and experience in disaster prevention among ASEAN countries has been enhanced. Activities and research cooperation on natural disasters among ASEAN member countries as well as partners have been strongly developed, ensuring that the requirements for natural disaster prevention and control are met in the context of increasingly complex natural disasters in terms of scope and intensity in the region.
Furthermore, the mobilization of resources from various sources for disaster prevention and control in the ASEAN region in general and Vietnam in particular is of interest, ensuring that requirements are met.
In addition, the development of human resources and cadres in disaster prevention and control is promoted, in accordance with the needs of ASEAN member countries in general and Vietnam in particular.
In addition, education and public awareness programs are invested in and given due attention in the ASEAN member states, ensuring the reduction of natural disaster risks, especially for vulnerable groups.
PV: Thank you very much!
Mai Dan ( performed )
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