PM asks for timely hunger relief in post-flood period

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs a meeting to surmount flood consequences, Ha Noi, October 26, 2017 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

Natural disasters leave over 500 people dead and injured in first 9 months

PM Phuc made the suggestion while chairing a meeting to surmount flood consequences on October 26 in Ha Noi.

The meeting drew the attendance of ministerial and local leaders from Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Son La, and Thanh Hoa provinces which have been seriously affected by heavy rains and floods. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that since the beginning of the year, natural disasters have left 245 deaths and missing; destroying 4,600 houses; damaging 102,000 others. Localities suffered from a total loss of over VND 36.5 trillion (equivalent to US$ 1.6 billion). 

Especially, torrential rains from October 9-12 in Nghe An and some northwest provinces resulted in devastating floods in some rivers, and forced Hoa Binh reservoir to open eight floodgates for the first time. 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong was quoted as saying that in the short term, it is necessary to evacuate residents (about 2,436 households) from dangerous areas to safer places; provide rice relief and seeds for local residents to stabilize production; provide emergency investment to repair key dykes especially in Thanh Hoa province; and install landslide warning systems. 

Addressing the meeting, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung voiced the necessity to review all areas prone to flash flood for preventive measures, and adopt solutions to maintaining lakes and dams to ensure their smooth operation. 

PM Phuc asked for reviewing disaster response activities, from forecasting, directing, fighting and recovering process to draw lessons.

The PM asked the localities to pay special attention to the production of the winter-spring rice crop and care for them in the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, cut interest rates and reschedule loans for the residents.

The Government chief tasked the MARD to provide varieties for flood-hit communities, while requesting authorized agencies to ensure smooth transportation and supply of power, especially in northern mountainous provinces. Population planning should also be completed towards ensuring safety for people, he added.

The PM also agreed with the MARD’s suggestion to host a national conference on natural disaster prevention and control in December this year./.

By Kim Anh