Improving disaster response capacity in the context of complex climate change developments

Engineer Nguyen Quang Hoa - Member of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Irrigation Association: Improving the capacity to respond to natural disasters in the context of complex climate change

Through following the question and answer session of Mr. Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, I see that basically, the difficulties and problems of Nghe An in prevention work have been clarified.overcoming the consequences of natural disastersHowever, it is recommended that the Provincial People's Committee should have more breakthrough solutions to minimize the consequences caused by natural disasters.

In recent years, climate change has become a hot issue, challenging the sustainable development of the world. Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular are not outside of that influence. With Nghe An, located in the tropical monsoon zone, with complex terrain with many high hills and mountains, dense river density, large riverbed slopes, every year it has to face many types of natural disasters such as storms, floods, cold, droughts...

Nghe An terrain can be divided into 3 areas: sea, coastal; plain; mountainous, with a dense river system, in which the main river is Ca River with a large basin of up to 27,200km², about 9,400km²located in the territory of Laos. Therefore, the annual water source from outside the territory is 18.4%. Therefore, it is necessary to have tasks and solutions for each area in a practical and highly feasible manner. Local authorities at all levels also need to improve the quality of forecasting and warning, especially storms, tropical depressions, extreme heavy rains that pose a risk of flash floods, historic floods, and landslides. It is necessary to divide disaster risk zones and have detailed disaster warning maps down to the commune level, especially areas at risk of flash floods and landslides.

Besides, the province also needs to effectively implement the set of indicators for evaluating work.disaster preventionProvincial level, building safe communities, proactively preventing natural disasters, adapting to climate change. Must train and improve the capacity of the disaster prevention shock force at the grassroots level. In particular, must expand flood drainage apertures through roads, handle obstacles on rivers, streams, and flood drainage corridors. Build combined evacuation works such as community houses in areas at risk of floods, deep inundation and flash floods.

Regarding the safety of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs, because these are large-volume water storage projects in the upper reaches of rivers and streams, with a height difference compared to residential areas in the downstream areas. If a dam or reservoir breaks, it will cause an unforeseeable disaster. With 1,061 reservoirs and most of them have a lifespan of 50-60 years, but if it is true as reported by the Provincial People's Committee that from 2000 to now, only 374 reservoirs have been upgraded and repaired; 687 reservoirs have not been upgraded, of which 70 are severely damaged, degraded and at risk of being unsafe, then it is indeed very alarming. Because, in the past, dams and reservoirs were designed based on short hydrological documents, low flood safety standards, many reservoirs were built manually, and were later upgraded on old foundations, so the risk of being unsafe will be higher than reservoirs built later.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Tung - Secretary of Lam Thang village Party cell, Ngoc Son commune, Thanh Chuong district:Hope to be allocated funds to upgrade bridges, culverts and canal systems to drain flood water during the flood season.

Since the floods in late September and early October as well as previous natural disasters, people have highly appreciated the role and responsibility of authorities at all levels and functional agencies in promptly implementing natural disaster prevention, rescue and relief. Ensuring people's lives has been given top priority. Functional forces, especially the Police, Army, Militia and Youth Union, have worked day and night to rescue and move people from flooded areas and areas at risk of landslides to safety, minimizing human losses, and actively participating in activities to help people overcome the consequences of storms and floods. However, we hope that the province will have a sustainable solution that can prevent natural disasters in the long term.

Lam Thang village itself, although located in a mountainous area, is separated by Rao Gang River. There are two roads leading into the village, one is through the bridge over Rao Gang River and the other is along the mountain from Xuan Tuong Commune. However, the bridge over the river has been degraded, while the road along the mountain has not been built, so during the rainy season, people, especially students, have a hard time traveling. Due to the divided terrain, the village of 350 households is flooded and isolated every year during the rainy season, sometimes even isolated for 15-20 days.

In Lam Thang village, there are 6 dams, but all of them are earth dams built decades ago. Only La Nga dam has been upgraded. The rest have shown signs of deterioration and their ability to prevent and store water is very limited. Every time the rainy season comes, we are always worried about the dam breaking.

We hope that the province and district will soon allocate funds to upgrade the bridge over Rao Gang River so that people can travel safely, especially during the rainy season, and at the same time upgrade the dams to ensure effective and safe water storage.

Mr. Lu Thanh Tuan - Block 1, Muong Xen town, Ky Son district: If there is an early warning system, people will be more proactive in preventing natural disasters.

We have just experienced the most terrifying flash flood in decades (the flash flood occurred on the morning of October 2). After the flash flood, local authorities at all levels, organizations, unions, and volunteers were present in a timely manner to support people in overcoming the consequences, providing relief, and ensuring no one went hungry or cold after the flash flood. This made us extremely moved.

Through the report and the questioning session of the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, we also partly realized the difficulties of the province in natural disaster prevention. In fact, after each natural disaster, not only the people but also the State suffers damage, especially infrastructure. Right in the area recently affected by flash floods in Ky Son, if the people suffer 1 damage, the State suffers 10 damage, when many agencies and organizations are flooded, many roads are damaged.

However, for the people in the disaster area, we hope that the authorities will continue to pay attention to food and accommodation for the people, especially households in the landslide area, who cannot continue to live in their old homes. We also hope that the province will soon upgrade and repair the Hoa Son spillway bridge, and build embankments in the Huoi Giang stream area, to avoid the situation where every time it rains, people's travel is blocked.

Besides, if an early warning system for flash floods is built at the source, such as sirens or text messages, people will be more proactive in prevention.

Mr. Quang Van Dang - Party Secretary of Yen Tinh Commune, Tuong Duong District:There needs to be a policy mechanism to ensure funding for disaster prevention, response and recovery.

In recent years, our locality has continuously suffered devastating natural disasters, especially flash floods and landslides. We still remember the flash flood on the night of May 26, 2009 in Pa Ty village that killed 5 local people. Recently, in 2018 and 2019, flash floods also damaged roads and schools in the commune.

We realize that, obviously, natural disasters are very difficult to avoid, but we can mitigate the damage by moving people out of risk areas; building safer residential areas; having a full and timely warning system... However, to do that, funding from higher levels is very necessary.

In Yen Tinh commune itself, in previous years, many companies and enterprises were granted licenses to mine gold, but after the licenses expired and they left, they did not return the land. Currently, the stream bed is higher than the village, so it will be easy to cause water stagnation. Every time there is heavy rain, the stagnant water will easily cause flash floods. We also hope that the province will have mechanisms and policies to ensure funding for prevention, response and recovery when natural disasters occur.