Reporter (PV):

Major General Truong Manh Dung: The circulation of storm No. 11 caused prolonged heavy rain, causing the water level of rivers in Military Region 1, especially Bang River, Trung River, Thuong River, Cau River, and Cong River to rise very quickly, setting a new peak, surpassing previous major floods. Many localities were deeply flooded, landslides, some communes were isolated, traffic was cut off, power was lost and communication was interrupted; many offices, schools, national highways, spillways, dykes and civil works were damaged; tens of thousands of households were directly affected by floods and landslides in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Bac Ninh , Cao Bang... Preliminary assessment, the damage in Military Region 1 during this flood was the largest in many years and after the flood receded, there was a lot of work to do to overcome the consequences.

Major General Truong Manh Dung. Photo: VAN HIEU

PV:

Major General Truong Manh Dung: Thoroughly implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of National Defense , the Military Region 1 has urgently deployed to respond with the highest sense of responsibility, closely coordinating with local Party committees, authorities and forces, determined to rescue, ensure safety for people, and minimize damage. The Military Region 1 Command immediately sent 4 working groups chaired by the heads of the Military Regions to localities to coordinate, direct, mobilize forces and means to respond and handle situations, especially to rescue vulnerable dikes, evacuate people in deeply flooded and landslide areas and overcome the consequences of floods.

The Military Region has directed agencies and units to mobilize more than 132,000 officers and soldiers of the regular army, militia and self-defense forces with more than 6,500 vehicles of all kinds to participate in rescue and support the evacuation of nearly 26,600 households with more than 120,000 people from dangerous areas; reinforce a total of more than 30km of dikes in key dike routes; receive, distribute, and coordinate relief supplies and drinking water for people in isolated localities and areas. The Military Region has also requested the Ministry of National Defense to provide forces and vehicles of the 12th Army Corps, the Hanoi Capital Command, the Air Defense-Air Force, Special Forces, Engineers, Chemical Corps, etc. to support the provinces in responding to and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. The local army units and the forces mobilized by the Ministry of National Defense have coordinated with local Party committees, authorities and the Military Region's armed forces to actively respond and support the people, especially in protecting the dikes and rescuing people in dangerous areas. Many units also organized cooking, built temporary houses, examined and treated patients and provided free medicine, contributing to taking care of the lives of people in flooded areas.

As soon as the rain decreased and the flood receded, the Military Region's armed forces and units in the area carried out "where the water receded, overcome the consequences", urgently cleaning up, preventing epidemics after the flood, prioritizing the restoration of traffic, medical facilities, schools, offices and helping policy families, families in difficult circumstances overcome the consequences... By October 13, the Military Region's armed forces, units stationed in the area, units reinforced by the Ministry of National Defense had helped clean up nearly 100 offices, more than 150 educational facilities and more than 100 medical facilities, 70 roads, cleared more than 20km of canals, helping nearly 13,000 families overcome the consequences of natural disasters; disinfected nearly 500 hectares in the provinces; organized 2 mobile clean water filtration stations for people in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces...

In addition, agencies and units in the Military Region have closely coordinated with local authorities to visit and provide food, clean water, clothes, and blankets to help people stabilize their lives and restore production after natural disasters. The image of officers and soldiers selflessly helping the people has contributed to enhancing the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers and has been praised by local Party committees, authorities, and people.

PV:

Major General Truong Manh Dung: It can be affirmed that the coordination between the Military Region's Armed Forces with local Party Committees, authorities and forces is extremely close, synchronous, highly effective, helping to reduce many losses of people and property for the people. This effectiveness is clearly demonstrated in 3 main aspects:  

Leaders of Military Region 1 inspect and direct units to reinforce the Cau River dike in Thai Nguyen province. Photo: HOANG DUONG

Firstly, proactively coordinate early and from afar. As soon as information about storm No. 11 was received, the Military Region directed agencies and units to proactively advise Party committees and authorities at all levels, coordinate with forces to review and assess key areas at risk of landslides and deep flooding to prepare forces and means to respond in accordance with the "4 on-site" motto. Continuously exchanging information and organizing emergency coordination meetings created high unity in direction and command from the beginning.

Second, smooth coordination and clear division of labor in the response phase. During the implementation process, local Party committees and authorities have maximized their role in directing, operating, mobilizing local forces and firmly grasping the local situation. On that basis, the Military Region's armed forces play a core, pioneering role, using specialized vehicles to move into dangerous and isolated areas to evacuate people, rescue and salvage. Along with that, timely mobilization and close coordination with local Army units, police forces, militia, sectors, agencies, organizations... in rescue, dyke protection, and people's supplies...

Third, unity in action to overcome the consequences. When the flood recedes, this coordination continues to be promoted. Local authorities organize damage statistics, grasp the needs of the people, and the Army is the main force supporting the government and people to clean up and sanitize roads, houses, offices, schools, deploy mobile clean water stations...

This result once again affirms that with the consensus and joint efforts between the Army, Party committees, local authorities, functional forces and people, we have enough strength to overcome the harsh challenges of natural disasters.

PV:

Major General Truong Manh Dung: The Party Committee and the Military Region Command continue to direct units to maintain forces and vehicles ready to mobilize to support localities in overcoming the consequences of floods; focus on helping people clean up the environment, prevent and fight epidemics; repair and rebuild houses, restore traffic infrastructure, schools, medical stations, irrigation systems, and soon stabilize life and production.

Officers and soldiers of Regiment 2, Division 3 (Military Region 1) participate in protecting the Cau River dike in Hop Thinh commune, Bac Ninh province. Photo: PHU SON

Along with that, the Military Region closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to review and grasp the damage situation, proactively propose to superiors to support overcoming the consequences and advise on long-term solutions for preventing, combating and responding to natural disasters. Provincial Military Commands and commune-level Military Commands promoted their advisory roles, proactive spirit and responsibility in coordinating with agencies, units and localities to receive and distribute relief goods, avoiding waste and improper purposes... The Military Region's armed forces continued to maintain civil mobilization teams, military medical teams, engineers... directly at the grassroots to support people to overcome difficulties and disasters.

PV:

Major General Truong Manh Dung: On behalf of the Party Committee and the Military Region 1 Command, I sincerely thank the agencies, units and forces inside and outside the Army for their close coordination and cooperation with the Military Region's Armed Forces in effectively responding to severe natural disasters and helping people overcome the consequences. I warmly commend the bravery and courage of the officers and soldiers of the Military Region's Armed Forces. In times of danger and hardship, you, together with the Party Committee, the government and the functional forces, are truly a solid support for the people, thereby further enhancing the glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army. However, the Military Region's Armed Forces need to continue to promote the spirit of "Forgetting oneself for the people", not being subjective or negligent; continuing to stick to the people, sticking to the locality, joining hands to help people soon stabilize their lives and restore production.

The Party Committee and Command of Military Region 1 deeply sympathize with the losses and difficulties of the Party Committee, government and people in the flood-affected areas; at the same time, thank the sentiments and wholehearted support of the localities and people for the Military Region's Armed Forces in the process of performing their duties. The Military Region 1's Armed Forces will always stand shoulder to shoulder, continue to support the people to quickly overcome the consequences of natural disasters and bring life back to normal. We believe that with solidarity, joint efforts and unanimity, we will quickly overcome all difficulties caused by the historic flood.

PV:

GROUP OF REPORTERS (performed)

* Please visit the section to see related news and articles.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/ke-vai-sat-canh-tiep-tuc-ho-tro-nhan-dan-som-khac-phuc-hau-qua-thien-tai-857764