Ensuring people's safety is the top requirement in disaster prevention and control.

Working with the delegation were comrade Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue, along with comrades in the Steering Committee and related agencies. Photo: Phu Huong

Nghe An has diverse terrain, harsh climate, the impact of natural disasters on the socio-economic life of the province is very large. Every year, Nghe An has many severe cold spells, frequent heat waves, 2-3 storms and tropical depressions each year, 5-6 floods, about 15-20 tornadoes, hail, the average annual rainfall is from 1,800 to 2,000ml, many floods caused by storms and cold high pressure. Coastal areas are affected by rising water, high tides; plain areas are affected by storms, floods, inundation; mountainous areas are affected by floods, flash floods and landslides.
The province has 493 km of dykes of all kinds, 1,061 irrigation reservoirs, 2 large irrigation systems...

Currently, Nghe An has 30 ships, boats and tugboats participating in rescue operations, but their operating range is only under 20 nautical miles, and they can withstand winds of level 5 and 6. Only one ship managed by the border guards can withstand winds of level 8 and 9. Currently, 3/6 of the fishing boat anchorage areas are anchored naturally and have not been invested in or built.

In the first 6 months of 2020, natural disasters caused an estimated economic loss of 248,512 billion VND; there were 38 accidents at sea, killing 6 sailors and leaving 1 missing.

Comrade Nguyen Van De informed the working delegation about some contents in the work of natural disaster prevention and control in Nghe An province. Photo: Phu Huong

After 1 year of implementing the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Control Plan for the period 2019 - 2023, Nghe An has significantly improved its response and handling capacity when natural disasters occur. The quality of information, forecasting and warning of weather and natural disasters has been improved. Key projects on flood prevention, tide and landslide prevention, hydrological stations, etc. have been invested in and built. The project "Raising community awareness and community-based disaster risk management" as well as disaster prevention and control drills have been implemented with practical results...

Speaking at the meeting, Major General Tran Van Nam assessed that Nghe An has implemented very well, proactively and systematically the Central Government's instructions in performing the task of natural disaster prevention and control. At the same time, he stated: In addition to improving the quality of information, weather forecasts and warnings, the province needs to speed up the progress and ensure the quality of construction of key works on natural disaster prevention and control to protect residents and stabilize production; focus on propagating and disseminating knowledge on natural disaster prevention, control and response in vulnerable and densely populated areas in many forms; do a good job of "4 on-site" work. Organize training and drills well, improve the professionalism of search and rescue forces, in which the armed forces are the core.

The working group inspected the flood and storm prevention situation at Ba Khe dam (Nam Dan). Photo courtesy of Phu Huong

“Nghe An is one of the localities that suffers the most natural disasters in the country. The province needs to have a plan to ensure the safety of construction works as well as the safety of people, putting the safety of people first” - Major General Tran Van Nam emphasized.

At the meeting, Nghe An proposed that the working delegation propose that the Central Government invest funds to implement the project to upgrade the sea dyke system; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider classifying and decentralizing the dyke system; allowing Nghe An to participate in disaster reconstruction projects, upgrading infrastructure, and social welfare for areas heavily affected by natural disasters.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant releases record flood in 2018. Photo: Phu Huong

“The advisory team of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is requested to submit to the Government a regulation on coordination with the Lao Government on providing information on floods and rains on the Ca River basin on the Lao side so that Nghe An can promptly respond during the flood season. The Central Government is requested to support 50 billion VND to upgrade 2 km of Ta Lam dike in Do Luong district, and 80 billion VND to clear key dike areas. In particular, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control should promptly advise on the issuance of a circular guiding the implementation of the Government's regulations on the establishment and management of the Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Fund,” Comrade Nguyen Van De proposed at the meeting.