Toward a sustainable community to respond to natural disasters
Celebration of the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control 2022
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Soc Trang, 16 May 2022 – A ceremony has been held today in Soc Trang province on the occasion of the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control by the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, UNICEF, and the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province. Taking place from 15 to 22 May 2022, the week aims to promote community resilience to natural disasters for sustainable development.
“With the theme ‘Sustainable communities to respond to disasters’, the National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control emphasizes the important role of the relevant sectors and local authorities in response and prevention of natural disasters, as well as to ensure that the communities are prepared for the coming rainy season”, said Mr. Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Director General of Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority at the celebration event. “It’s also a chance to strengthen communication activities to increase awareness and improve people’s capacity, building a society that is better protected against natural disasters”, he added.
“Children bear the greatest burden of the impacts of natural disasters, which threaten their health, education, and protection. Children are also the agents of change for their own lives and the future of their communities and countries. Therefore, empowering children and getting them involved in the preparedness and response to natural disasters will bring long-term sustainable results”, said Maharajan Muthu, Chief of Child Survival and Development and Environment, UNICEF Viet Nam.
The event is part of a UNICEF project to enhance resilience to disaster risk and climate change for children supported by the Government of Japan. “Children are susceptible to the impact of degraded hygiene or food shortage caused by natural disasters, and we have to prevent decreased accessibility to medical care and education in times of disasters”, said Jin Toriyama, Second secretary, Embassy of Japan. “We also should take notice of and encourage the important role that children can play in their homes and local communities in disaster prevention”.
The Vice Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee expressed the province’s commitment to implement actions to improve the community's capacity for disaster prevention and control, with a special focus on children - the future generation of the country. “Natural disaster prevention and control requires the active participation of national and local authorities, social and international organizations, press agencies and the whole community. Through the activities organized in Soc Trang on the occasion of National Week for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, I hope that local authorities and communities’ awareness, especially children’s, will be increased, as well as the collective understanding about natural disasters and their prevention; thereby contributing to building a safer and more sustainable community”, said Mr. Vuong Quoc Nam.
On this occasion, a series of activities have been carried out in Soc Trang province to raise awareness and encourage the participation of children in the fight against natural disasters. Students from the Lai Hoa Primary and Junior High School participated in a painting contest and the quiz game ‘Ring the Golden Bell Challenge’, organized by the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and UNICEF Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training of Soc Trang Province. The lessons learnt through these activities will be used to replicate them in other localities throughout Viet Nam.
For more information, please contact:
- Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Community Disaster Management Department - Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control - Tel: 0901.369.218
- Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Advocacy and Communications Specialist, UNICEF Viet Nam, Tel: +84 (024) 38500225, +84 (0)904154678; Email: ntthuong@unicef.org
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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about COVID-19, visit https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/covid-19
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit https://www.unicef.org/vietnam
