A seminar highlighting the role of the community in natural calamity mitigation was held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on October 29.

The event saw the attendance of over 100 delegates from the Red Cross Societies of Vietnam, Germany and Australia , along with representatives from CARE International in Vietnam , and people with disabilities in An Giang and Kien Giang provinces.

Participants highlighted the impacts of climate change on the Southeast Asian nation, especially on the delta, noting that poor local prevention in the field has made the lives of children, the old and disabled very difficult.

The community should understand the importance of helping people with disabilities participate in the work of natural disaster mitigation, said Chairman of the An Giang Red Cross Society Huynh Hoang Huy.

The delta is benefiting from a number of policies designed by the State and international organisations . The provinces of An Giang, Kien Giang and Soc Trang are receiving assistance from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), CARE International in Vietnam , and the German Red Cross Society.

These organisations are implementing two projects in the field, aiming to support local children, women, the old and disabled materially and spiritually, contributing to the implementation of the Government Decision 1002/QD-TTg on “Raising community awareness and community-based disaster risk management” (CBDRM) issued on July 13, 2009.

Deputy Chairman of the An Giang People’s Committee Ho Viet Hiep appealed for the whole community to take care of and learn about the demand and ability of vulnerable groups, especially disabled people in adapting to climate cahnge and mitigating natural disasters.-VNA