Quang Tri leader works with FAO and ECHO delegation

Quang Tri strengthens collaboration with international organizations in disaster prevention

Standing Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee Ha Sy Dong on November 20 held a meeting with Remi Nono Womdim, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam, and Valentina Auricchio, the Representative of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) for the D3 region, along with their delegation.

The FAO, in collaboration with the Department of Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Control (DDMFC), has been implementing the technical support project titled “Strengthening Capacity and Expanding Early Action Implementation Linked with the Social Protection System” since 2000. The project aims to protect the livelihoods, food security, and nutrition of vulnerable rural households by forecasting the impacts of natural disasters and improving governance and proactive disaster risk reduction measures.

Scene of the working session - Photo: TN

FAO and the Department of Dyke Management and Flood, Storm Control (DDMFC) have implemented the technical support project, titled “Strengthening capacity and expanding early action implementation linked with the social protection system”, since 2000. The project aims to safeguard livelihoods, food security, and nutrition for vulnerable rural households by forecasting the impacts of natural disasters and enhancing governance and proactive measures in disaster risk reduction.

In Quang Tri, the project has been carried out across seven communes in four districts: Vinh Lam Commune (Vinh Linh District), Gio Mai Commune (Gio Linh District), Cam Hieu Commune (Cam Lo District), Trieu Do and Trieu Trach communes (Trieu Phong District), and Hai Phong and Hai Hung communes (Hai Lang District). These activities have greatly enhanced public awareness, improved local skills, and contributed to a shift in disaster preparedness practices within the community.

Vice Chairman Ha Sy Dong said that Quang Tri has always considered disaster prevention and control a key priority. The local government and residents have made great efforts to implement measures for disaster prevention, response, and recovery, thereby reducing damages.

However, he said between 2020 and 2024, the complex impacts of climate change have caused significant losses in human lives, property, infrastructure, and production, adversely affecting the province’s socio-economic development. Notable examples include successive storms and floods in 2020, unseasonal flooding in March 2022 and February 2023, as well as severe storms and flooding occurring between September and November 2024.

The vice chairman highly appreciated the “Forecast-based early cction for storms and floods” iniatives, funded by ECHO and implemented through FAO in Quang Tri. He expressed his hope for continued collaboration and support from FAO and ECHO to strengthen the province’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Remi Nono Womdim and Valentina Auricchio thanked the Quang Tri authorities for their cooperation and support in implementing project activities.

FAO and ECHO acknowledged that Vietnam, including Quang Tri, is one of the countries most heavily affected by the consequences of climate change. Therefore, enhancing resilience and minimizing damage caused by natural disasters remains a top priority. The two organizations committed to continuing their support for local households, particularly in storm and flood response, to reduce risks and foster sustainability in the future.

Tien Nhat - Tung Lam