The Public Security Forces play a core and pioneering role in disaster prevention and control.

On the morning of May 22, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Public Security held an online conference on ensuring security and order in natural disaster prevention and control and the task of natural disaster prevention and control in the People's Public Security. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son - Deputy Minister of Public Security chaired the conference.

Participating in the bridge point in Nghe An were Colonel Ho Van Tu - Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, along with representatives of leaders of relevant departments and branches. Photo: D.C.

Promote the core and vanguard role

In recent times, the Central Party Committee of the Public Security, the Ministry of Public Security, the Steering Committee for Climate Change Response; Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the Ministry of Public Security have focused on leading and directing the synchronous and drastic implementation of policies and solutions to ensure security and order in natural disaster prevention and control and carry out the task of natural disaster prevention and control in the People's Public Security (Public Security).

Accordingly, the police of units and localities have seriously implemented the direction of the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities. They have proactively developed plans and arranged forces and means to be ready to coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to ensure security, order, rescue, traffic safety, and participate in responding to and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

In recent years, the Ministry of Public Security has mobilized over 25,000 officers and soldiers along with thousands of vehicles to coordinate with agencies, organizations, local authorities and people to participate in search and rescue, and overcome the consequences of rain, storms, floods, landslides, fire and explosion accidents in localities.

Traffic police of Vinh City Police help people move when their vehicles stalled during heavy rain in October 2019. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

The police force has carried out 4,509 search and rescue operations; organized evacuation instructions for thousands of people out of areas with incidents, accidents, flooded and dangerous areas; directly rescued 2,809 people and found 631 bodies of victims and handed them over to the authorities for handling. Along with that, organized 5,000 officers and soldiers to go on field trips to localities frequently affected by natural disasters to coordinate with local authorities, police forces and the army to support and help people overcome the consequences of natural disasters and stabilize their lives.

These are very practical and meaningful actions demonstrating the core and pioneering role of serving the people, which are supported, respected, acknowledged and shared by leaders at all levels and the people for the sacrifices, losses and injuries caused by incidents; affirming the important and core role of the Public Security Forces in preventing, avoiding and mitigating natural disasters.

Focus on prevention and control

Speaking at the conference, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son - Deputy Minister of Public Security acknowledged and commended the efforts, attempts and important results that the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Public Security and the Public Security of units and localities have achieved in the past time.

However, in addition to the results and achievements, there are still shortcomings, limitations, difficulties and obstacles. Specifically, the forces working on climate change response, natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue at the police units and localities mainly work part-time, have not received basic training, so there are still limitations in staff work, organizing the implementation of assigned tasks. The work of reserving essential supplies and necessities to serve the "4 on-site" requirements in some areas located in areas with high risks of being affected by natural disasters is not suitable due to financial conditions...

Nghe An bridge point monitors the conference. Photo: D.C.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son stated that, according to the assessment of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, in the coming time, the climate and weather will continue to develop complicatedly, with extreme weather phenomena continuing to appear. In addition, the world situation will continue to develop rapidly and complicatedly. Therefore, it is required that the Public Security Forces closely follow the assigned political tasks and the directions of the Central and Government on natural disaster prevention and control to thoroughly grasp and organize implementation. In particular, focusing on implementing a number of key tasks:

It is necessary to strengthen monitoring, grasp the situation, forecast and promptly advise and propose policies and measures to prevent, combat, respond to and overcome the consequences of climate change, natural disasters, floods and storms, with special attention paid to prevention and control. Proactively stockpile, make provisions, ensure facilities and technical means, and organize standing forces to be ready to respond to natural disasters and incidents. Improve the quality of health care for people and officers and soldiers when there are epidemics caused by climate change, storms and floods.

Police officers brave the rain to help people escape the flood. Photo courtesy of Hung Bang

At the same time, promptly propose to the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security to decide to support and assist collectives and individuals in the police force and people affected by incidents and natural disasters; promptly reward and encourage collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in performing tasks of responding to climate change, preventing and fighting natural disasters and searching and rescuing./.