A large investment package will be deployed to build flood-proof houses for the Central region.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep, up to now, localities suffering from flood damage in the Central provinces have counted over 400 km buried, which need to be urgently dredged and repaired to ensure the restoration of agricultural production, especially for the 2020-2021 winter-spring crop.

Besides, the problem of restoring rural clean water systems after damage caused byfloodsis also a big problem, we need to focus on ensuring clean water for public works such as schools, kindergartens, medical stations... as well as domestic water for people after the flood.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is directing the General Department of Irrigation to urgently coordinate with the Central provinces to review the damaged centralized water supply points. For places without water supply, the focus will be on instructing people to use chemicals to treat immediately, including people's well water that has been flooded due to heavy rains and floods.

The flood shelters in Tan Hoa flood center (Quang Binh) have been effective, ensuring the safety of people and property despite the recent heavy floods. Photo:ST

Regarding long-term clean water tasks, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that currentlyAsian Development Bank (ADB)is implementing a 3 million USD production support package for Vietnam. In particular, it is committed to having a separate ODA project package for infrastructure restoration and production restoration in the Central provinces damaged by storms and floods, with a total value of about 250 million USD and a very long loan period (about 30 years), with very low interest rates.

If approved by the Government, this project can be implemented immediately in the near future to fundamentally improve infrastructure, including transportation, irrigation, and agricultural infrastructure, focusing on sustainable development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other ministries and sectors will be determined to work with localities to restore infrastructure after storms and floods in a sustainable manner. Offices and headquarters in the Central provinces, especially high-risk areas, must ensure they can withstand storms and floods.

In addition, investment will be deployed in safe evacuation house systems, and investment support will be provided in building flood shelter systems, based on careful research on standards for each region.

This is a very necessary, long-term, sustainable issue that is being awaited by localities. Because if there isflood-proof houses, to ensure minimal property damage to people, people's lives must be absolutely guaranteed.