Viet Nam’s five largest cities give disaster risk reduction a boost, as entire nation solidifies disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation agenda

Ha Noi, Viet Nam – The five largest cities and most important economic centers of Viet Nam, Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Can Tho and Da Nang, pledged to make cities safer against disasters at the second National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai today.

The Forum organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) set a firm plan to establish the National Platform and launched the World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient- My City is Getting Ready.”

“Rapid population growth and concentration of economic activities in big cities means people living there face higher risks of climate-related disasters. Disaster risk management and climate change response needs to be more comprehensive and coordinated to address, amongst others, the emerging urban risks” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “I am pleased to see the five leading cities of Viet Nam sign up to the Global Campaign and be part of the discussion about the National Platform.”

Attending the Forum at the invitation of the Government of Viet Nam, Senator Loren Legarda of The Philippines and the Regional Champion of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) praised Viet Nam as the first country in the region that has decided to establish a joint National Platform to coordinate and integrate in practice disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programmes.

“Just before coming here, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies, leading the implementation of the Disaster Risk Management Act and the Climate Change Act in The Philippines. We hope that these experiences will contribute to your discussion. Meanwhile countries in the region look forward to learn from this exciting process to pioneer the National Platform in Viet Nam,” the Philippine senator said.

A multi-stakeholder National Platform to mobilize and coordinate efforts is more urgent than ever, not that nearly all of Viet Nam’s ministries and localities have developed action plans for the “National Target Programme to Respond to Climate Change” and are implementing the national strategy for disaster prevention, response and mitigation.

Noting the strong emphasis on climate-related disaster risk reduction in the National Target Programme to Respond to Climate Change and subsequent sector action plans, Vice Minister Tran Hong Ha of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MoNRE) and Vice Minister Dao Xuan Hoc of MARD shared views in expecting that the National Platform will help make the vision of a safer Viet Nam, in terms of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, into reality.

“The success of Viet Nam’s own reform, in many sectors, has demonstrated that a strong legislative framework is essential. The United Nations is pleased to work with the Government and National Assembly as they country finalizes its Disaster Risk Management Law. The National Platform, with participation of cities, local governments and other stakeholders will be an important part of this process” said Ms. Setsuko Yamazaki, Country Director of UNDP.

The World Disaster Reduction Campaign: “Making Cities Resilient -- My City is Getting Ready” was launched by the UNISDR in 2010. It builds upon the 2006-2007 Global Campaign on Safe Schools, and the 2008-2009 Global Campaign on Safe Hospitals. Since its launch in May 2010, nearly 600 cities have already joined the Campaign and are committed to complying with one or more of the Ten Essentials.

For more information, including for information on the “Ten Essentials,” please visit http://www.unisdr.org/campaign