Disasters cause economic losses of 1-1.5 percent of GDP annually

15/10/2021 11:23

Over the past 30 years, natural disasters in Vietnam cause the death or missing of nearly 400 people along with economic losses of about 1-1.5 percent of GDP each year.

Disasters cause economic losses of 1-1.5 percent of GDP annually ảnh 1

Flooding submerges central Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Over the past 30 years, natural disasters in Vietnam cause the death or missing of nearly 400 people along with economic losses of about 1-1.5 percent of GDP each year.

The information was released at a recent ceremony held by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to celebrate International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM).

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh said that with the theme "Cooperation to overcome challenges together", the event affirms Vietnam's determination in cooperating with countries, agencies of the UN and ASEAN, and international organisations in raising global awareness of mitigating disaster risks and improving adaptive capacity and responding more effectively to natural disasters in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, Vietnam is one of the countries which are most affected by climate change and often suffer from many types of natural disasters, especially storms, floods, landslides, drought, and saltwater intrusion.

Therefore, the Vietnamese Party, State, and Government, local authorities, and socio-political organisations always pay attention to disaster prevention and control, he stressed.

Vietnam has actively joined international organisations and forums related to natural disaster prevention and mitigation, Thanh said, adding that Vietnam always is an active member and effectively contributes to ASEAN's joint efforts in disaster risk reduction and prevention.

However, there are still many limitations related to forecast, warning, resources, equipment, infrastructure, forces, application of science and technology, and post-disaster recovery, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a requirement to effectively respond to risks when they occur at the same time with natural disasters.

The Vietnamese Government always considers natural disaster prevention and control the top task of the whole political system in order to protect the people's lives, health, and property, Deputy PM Thanh said.

Vietnam highly values and hopes that countries, organisations and international friends continue to accompany and support Vietnam in early access to advanced science and technology, and resources to promptly respond and quickly overcome impacts and consequences of natural disasters./.

VNA