Chau Quang (Quy Hop): Difficulty in relocating residents from flood-prone areas.

(Baonghean) - The terrain of Chau Quang commune (Quy Hop district) is quite complex, with many rocky mountains, rivers, and streams... Therefore, during the rainy season and floods, many households have to relocate to temporary housing. The people wish to be relocated to new homes to stabilize their lives; however, due to a lack of funding for planning and constructing resettlement sites, this issue is facing many difficulties.

Ms. Vi Thi Thien and her grandchildren at their new home (Don Mong hamlet - Chau Quang commune)

In 2013, with financial support from the State, three households eligible for resettlement – ​​Vi Thi Thien from Don Mong hamlet; Ngo Xuan Truong from Le village; and Phan Xuan Dong from Le village – received 60 million VND to relocate. Along with their family savings, bank loans, and support from relatives, all three households were able to build sturdy houses in their new locations. Previously, Vi Thi Thien's family lived in a riverside area, near the edge of a stream, and every rainy season they were flooded, with water rising to the window level. Ms. Mac Thi Hoai (Mrs. Thien's daughter-in-law) shared: “There were seasons when the newly harvested rice was swept away before it could be dried. Sometimes, some rice remained, but it sprouted and spoiled, so we had to feed it to livestock. We also raised chickens and ducks, but every year they died and were swept away by the floodwaters. During the 2011 rainy season, the water rose high, causing soil erosion that collapsed the house walls. After that, the family moved to live on the garden land of our eldest son. From now on, the whole family can work in peace, no longer worrying about flooding and landslides.”

The family of Mr. Ngo Xuan Truong in Le village is also very happy to receive 20 million VND in resettlement support from the government. He has moved back and built a house on his parents' garden land. The greatest joy for his family is that from now on they can live in a new, spacious and sturdy house, far from the flood-prone area, and no longer have to worry every rainy season…

However, too few households in Chau Quang have received support to relocate to new homes, and therefore, this year's rainy season will still see many households in Chau Quang living in fear of landslides. After each flood, many inter-village and inter-commune roads in Chau Quang are cut off, and during heavy rains, sections of 7 km of national and provincial roads passing through the commune are submerged, making travel difficult for residents. The rainy season is approaching, but approximately 45 households in the commune, including those in Le, Yen Luom, Dong Lum, and Cu villages, need to be relocated. According to Mr. Quan Vi Thi, a land management official in Chau Quang commune, "Persuading people to relocate is very difficult because they lack the financial means to build new houses; moreover, there are no resettlement sites, while the residents demand a separate planned area for their residence. The commune lacks the funds to support their relocation." This situation has persisted for many years. When heavy rains and floods occur, the area is often submerged to a depth of 1-3 meters, with water taking 2-3 days to recede. Meanwhile, the residents stubbornly refuse to relocate, making disaster prevention and control even more challenging for the local authorities. Therefore, relevant authorities and especially Quy Hop district need to actively participate in mobilizing investment capital to promptly build resettlement areas for the people.

Quynh Lan