At the conference. (Source: dangcongsan.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The European Commission (EC)’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has provided 13.2 million EUR, or 14 million USD, for 41 disaster preparedness and risk reduction projects in Vietnam over the past 17 years.
It was heard at a conference to review the 17-year implementation of the ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) oganised by the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) in Hanoi on December 1.
The projects were carried out by the European Union, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Red Cross societies and the United Nations Development Programme in 26 cities and provinces throughout the country.
They have to date benefited 6.4 million people by improving the practice of disaster risk reduction (DRR) as well as public awareness of DRR actions.
At the conference, attendees spoke highly of the outcomes of the DIPECHO during the last 17 years, hoping that the ECHO and other development partners of Vietnam will continue to work closely with the VNRC towards the building of a community-based network for disaster risk management involving local Red Cross workers, militia and volunteers.
As a partner of the ECHO, the VNRC has developed the procedure for vulnerability assessment in disaster-prone areas.
It was approved by the Government and has been used as a tool to implement the national programme on raising community awareness and community-based disaster risk management or Programme 1002.-VNA
