Prime Minister sets out 4 goals and 15 urgent solutions to overcome flood consequences in Lao Cai

Accompanying the Prime Minister were Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, leaders of ministries, branches and Yen Bai province.

According to reports and opinions at the meetingLao Cai is one of the localities that has suffered the most damage due to the current flood and natural disaster. This is also the locality with the most severe loss of life to date, with many very serious landslides.

Due to the influence of storm circulation No. 3 (storm Yagi), from the night of September 7 to 11, 2024, Lao Cai province experienced moderate to heavy rain over a wide area; the Red River flood on the night of September 9 was at alert level 3 from 3.47 to 4.19 m, exceeding historical flood levels; causing widespread deep flooding.

According to the latest report of the province, 6/9 district-level areas have had deaths; 98 people have died, 81 people are missing, and 76 people are injured.

Of which, the landslide in Lang Nu village, Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district caused nearly 100 people to die and go missing; the landslide in Nam Tong village, Nam Luc commune, Bac Ha district also completely buried 8 houses, causing 7 deaths, 11 injuries, 11 missing; the collapse of the Southeast Asia-Nam Luc hydropower plant's operating house in Ban Cai commune, Bac Ha district caused 5 people to go missing...

Regarding material damage, there are no complete statistics yet, but preliminary estimates are up to thousands of billions of VND. As of September 12, 53/152 communes still had no electricity, and it is expected that by the end of September 16, the power will be temporarily restored to 100% of communes. Currently, there are still 3 communes completely isolated, 35 communes cannot be accessed by car.

The province has urgently evacuated more than 2,200 households with more than 9,500 people in dangerous areas to safe places. To date, the province has allocated 24 billion VND from the provincial budget reserve to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. The total funding from organizations and individuals is over 4.6 billion VND.

Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister said the meeting aimed to review the recent natural disaster and the response and recovery work in Lao Cai province in general and Bao Yen district in particular.

"There has never been a flood like this in Lao Cai's history," the Prime Minister assessed. This is reflected in the wide range of floods, the many objects, the complex nature, the rapid and sudden occurrence, the lack of skills and equipment to respond, the untimely response, and the subjectiveness of some people.

On behalf of General Secretary and President To Lam and leaders of the Party and State, the Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of those who lost their loved ones and went missing; and at the same time, he applauded the Party Committee, government, army and people of Lao Cai for their efforts, determination, and full capacity to "struggle" to respond to and overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

In particular, the Prime Minister commended the military and police forces for being ready, deploying forces early, from afar, closely following the locality, working side by side with the Party Committee, government, and people in responding to and overcoming the consequences of floods.

In addition to material damage, the Prime Minister said that the mental and psychological damage to a segment of the population is also very severe and needs to be encouraged, shared, and resolved.

The Prime Minister emphasized four goals:No one should be left without food, clothing, shelter, or clean water; quickly stabilize the situation for people, businesses, and the entire society; restore production and business in agriculture, industry, and services, create jobs and livelihoods for people; maintain political stability, social order and safety, security, safety, and public safety.

Regarding general duties,The Prime Minister requested that the entire political system must take part, the Party, the government, the army and the people, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations at all levels must perform their tasks well according to their functions, tasks and powers to overcome the consequences of floods effectively, confidently, self-reliantly, and strive with all their abilities, with the spirit of putting the lives, safety and health of the people first and foremost.

Specify 15 key tasks and solutionsFor localities in general and Lao Cai in particular, the Prime Minister requested that first of all, it is necessary to focus forces on searching for missing people, treating the injured and sick, and taking care of funerals and policies for the deceased.

Second, assess, plan, and relocate people out of dangerous areas with a comprehensive solution for the entire Lao Cai province. Particularly for Lang Nu village, it is necessary to urgently find a safe location so that by December 31, 2024 at the latest, the reconstruction of this village must be completed, meeting the expectations of the people, the new place of residence must be better than the old place.

Third, find every way, by every means, to reach isolated areas, on the basis of innovative thinking, not approaching them in a conventional way; from there, provide food, clean water, and necessities for the people.

Along with that, clean up and ensure environmental sanitation; restore traffic infrastructure, electricity, water, telecommunications; reorganize production, business, create jobs and livelihoods for people; repair schools, and wherever stable, students must return to school immediately; repair medical facilities to examine and treat people; review damage, analyze causes, propose tasks and solutions to overcome.

Assigning a number of specific tasks to ministries and branches in supporting and guiding localities, including Lao Cai, the Prime Minister requested that the military and police forces mobilize more people to actively participate in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and support localities to quickly stabilize the situation.

Regarding the restoration of damaged and affected transportation systems, the Ministry of Transport is responsible for major roads, the province is responsible for provincial roads, the district is responsible for district roads, and the commune is responsible for communal roads.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade ensures the supply of gasoline and other goods, ensures no hoarding, price gouging, or price fixing, and strictly handles violations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must recalculate the damage to rice and crops, and quickly guide people to restore farming, aquaculture, and livestock.

The Prime Minister also requested to call for and promote the spirit of mutual love and support among the people, the whole leaves cover the torn leaves, the torn leaves cover the more torn leaves; allocate support sources appropriately, avoiding negativity and loss.

Along with that, strengthen communication work, promote the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, and increase information and guidance on skills to respond to natural disasters and floods, and strictly implement the instructions of competent authorities. Conduct summary work, do well in emulation, reward those who do well, and handle personnel and units that do not complete their tasks.

Giving his opinion on handling Lao Cai's recommendations, the Prime Minister believes that Lao Cai will overcome this difficulty and complete its political tasks in 2024 with the results of 2023, preparing well for the organization of Party Congresses at all levels in 2025, towards the 14th National Party Congress.

Ha Van