Migration to prevent flash floods: Difficult because of "funding"

On the "digital map" of flood and storm prevention, flash floods in Nghe An province, 240 residential areas (including 9,536 houses and 43,014 people) in mountainous areas are marked with the possibility of landslides, flash floods and many of which need urgent evacuation. However, the implementation of support for people in "red alert" areas with housing can only be counted on the fingers.

Remember, in 2005, in Ky Son, Tuong Duong, there was a historic flood, then in 2007, and on June 23-26, there was another "new peak" in flooding (On June 25, the flood peak of the Ca River in Ky Son was 145.49m, 3.34m higher than the historical water level in 2005). This shows that floods are becoming more and more complicated and unpredictable. Therefore, the work of relocating people and resettling in areas at risk of flash floods and landslides needs to be paid attention to and implemented synchronously. Through digital maps, in Ky Son, there are 12 points in areas at risk of landslides, flash floods and landslides. Currently, the district is implementing a concentrated resettlement project in Keo Pha Tu village and is also implementing the intercropping of resettlement in Cha Ca village (Bao Thang), Poc village (Nam Giai), Nam Can village, and Na Loi village. In Tuong Duong district, there are 62 locations (including 627 houses and 2,698 people) located in areas prone to landslides, flash floods, and flash floods. Currently, the resettlement project in Huoi To 1 village has been completed, and during the flood on June 25-26, no damage was done to the people. Tuong Duong is currently implementing 2 projects to serve 120 resettled households in Na Can village (Yen Tinh) and Nhuon Mai village (Nhoon Mai commune). Que Phong district has 32 locations (including 1,616 houses and 9,395 people) located in areas prone to landslides, flash floods, and flash floods, and the district is currently actively implementing the resettlement project, while integrating it into projects under other programs to speed up the implementation progress. Quy Chau has 44 points, Quy Hop has 18 points, Con Cuong has 14 points, Tan Ky has 39 points, Nghia Dan has 17 points located in areas at risk of flooding, landslides, flash floods, and landslides.

Map of flood and storm prevention, flash floods in the province.
Photo: Hoang Vinh

Although the local government and people have made great efforts to relocate out of areas at risk of flooding, landslides, flash floods, and landslides, the results have not met the requirements. The main reason is: The investment funding source is low and the allocation is slow. To implement a resettlement area in a mountainous area requires a very large amount of funding, such as in Keo Pha Tu village (Ky Son district), nearly 10 billion VND must be invested to serve 45 households for settlement. Or in the project to build a resettlement area for emergency evacuation out of areas at risk of flash floods and in extremely difficult areas in Nhuon Mai village (Tuong Duong), the total investment approved was nearly 12.5 billion VND, and so far only 2.4 billion VND has been allocated... With the capacity of localities in mountainous areas and extremely difficult areas, the solution to the funding problem is to rely on state investment. And once this "flow" of investment funds is difficult, it is inevitable that it will interrupt the implementation of the program to relocate people from areas at risk of flooding, landslides, flash floods, and landslides. In addition, due to the characteristics of mountainous districts, finding land to plan resettlement areas is very difficult, especially in Ky Son and Que Phong districts. In fact, it is alarming that after the historic floods (2005-2007-2011), households still have to accept rebuilding their houses on the old land because there is no resettlement area. Along with that, the support policy for people is not suitable to reality such as: support (according to Decree 193/CP) for each household moving their house to the resettlement area is 20 million VND/household. These are the reasons that affect the mobilization of people to the resettlement area.

Households in Ky Son located in areas at high risk of landslides have not yet been evacuated. Xuan Tam

Obviously, what has been done in the past and compared to the current urgent needs, there is still a long way to go. And people in the flash flood area are hoping that the Flood and Storm Prevention Plan will not just stay in the computers of those responsible, but will be materialized with practical actions.

Hoang Vinh