People's safety against natural disasters is Quang Tri's top priority.

Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Tri province

PV: Could you tell us about the natural disaster situation in recent years in the province?

Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe: In recent years, the natural disaster and weather situation in the country as well as in Quang Tri province has had many unusual and irregular developments; the common types of natural disasters in the province are storms, heavy rains, floods, landslides, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and droughts. Typically, in 2020, there were consecutive historic and frequent floods, including a serious landslide at the National Defense Economic Group 337 (Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district). This year, natural disasters in the area killed 53 people and injured 46.

In 2022 alone, the province was affected by more than 50 natural disasters of all kinds, notably the extreme and unusual floods from March 31 to April 2 and floods caused by storms No. 4 and No. 5, which caused severe damage to agricultural production. Many key production areas of the province were almost completely lost, causing human casualties and some essential transport and irrigation infrastructure, greatly affecting people's lives and activities and local socio-economic development. Natural disasters in 2022 killed 22 people, with total economic losses of over VND 1,170 billion.

PV: To respond to natural disasters, especially storms and floods, what measures has the province been implementing in the coming time, sir?

Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe: Identifying that natural disasters occur all year round, frequently and at any time, therefore, from the beginning of the year, the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control have prioritized, focused and determinedly directed the work of natural disaster prevention and control, especially activities to improve proactiveness in natural disaster prevention.

The province thoroughly implements the "4 on-the-spot" motto in natural disaster prevention and control, requiring agencies, localities and units in the province to proactively review and update plans for natural disaster prevention and control; natural disaster response plans according to disaster risk levels, according to specific types of natural disasters, suitable for each locality, each sector and field from the grassroots to the provincial level to proactively respond when natural disasters occur. At the same time, fully prepare forces, materials and backup means according to the established plans and schemes.

Strengthening communication and dissemination of laws, raising awareness of natural disaster prevention in many appropriate and practical forms, expanding the spread and promoting effectiveness. In particular, in May 2023, we will deploy a series of activities in response to the National Week of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (May 15-22) and celebrating the traditional day of natural disaster prevention and control in Vietnam (May 22).

Strengthen the provision of information; share and exchange knowledge and experience on natural disaster prevention and search and rescue for all levels, sectors and people to proactively and effectively implement response plans and minimize damage caused by natural disasters. Direct the strengthening of management, inspection and review of vessel registration and inspection; check technical conditions to ensure safety on vessels and boats before going to sea (especially communication equipment and life-saving equipment); grasp the number of vessels, boats and fishermen operating at sea to guide vehicles to avoid and take shelter safely when natural disasters occur. Direct and conduct inspection and review of unsafe houses, residential areas along rivers, streams, outside river banks, areas at risk of flooding, landslides, flash floods; prepare plans to evacuate people in areas at high risk of deep flooding, flash floods, landslides to safe places...

Quang Tri organizes drills to move people and livestock to safety before the storm makes landfall.

PV: It is known that Quang Tri province has built disaster shelters to help people feel more secure when the rainy and stormy season comes. Could you please tell us more about this issue?

Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe: In recent times, the construction of disaster prevention and control works in general as well as disaster prevention community houses or solid disaster prevention and control houses for people in particular has been of interest to Quang Tri province, mobilizing, calling for and prioritizing resources for implementation. In particular, in the period of 2021 - 2022, in the province, there are more than 10 disaster prevention and control community houses (costing more than 10 billion VND) and more than 150 solid houses for people regularly affected by natural disasters (about 20 billion VND) supported for construction. After being handed over and put into use, the works have brought into full play their effectiveness.

In particular, the community house for natural disaster prevention and control, in addition to being a safe evacuation and shelter when a natural disaster occurs, is also a warehouse for storing and safely preserving support tools for agricultural production (such as fertilizers, plant varieties, pesticides or spare materials for natural disaster prevention and control, etc.); at the same time, it becomes a place to organize concentrated activities for local people or maximize its use for other suitable purposes. Solid housing for people in difficult circumstances and ethnic minorities becomes a safe shelter from natural disasters, while contributing to stabilizing people's lives, especially in mountainous, remote and isolated areas; stabilizing security, order and social safety in border areas associated with implementing the new rural program.

Currently, in the province, the demand for building community houses to prevent natural disasters and solid housing for people is still very large. In the coming time, we will continue to prioritize, call for, and mobilize resources to focus on supporting additional investment, especially from foreign organizations and philanthropists.

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