The northern midland province of Phu Tho has started a project in support of a national programme on disaster preparedness worth nearly 1 billion VND (476,000 USD).

Carried out by Plan Vietnam and the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the project will benefit Tan Son and Kiet Son mountainous communes via training courses, technical assistance and communication campaigns.

It is to help local authorities realise a community-based project on improving awareness of disaster risk, part of a national action plan on disaster risk mitigation and climate change adaptation.

At the same time, vulnerable communities are expected to be equipped with knowledge and skills in coping with natural disasters while teachers at local elementary and secondary schools will be able to arrange syllabi on disaster risk mitigation for their students.

Lessons drawn from the project will be published and shared with other localities in the implementation of the national action plan.

The project is slated for completion by December 2015.-VNA