Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the United Nations Children's Fund Viet Nam and Ha Noi National University of Education (HNUE) under the support by the Japanese government, the event was livestreamed on the Facebook pages of the ministry’s Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and the university.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep expressed confidence that with the spirit of solidarity – creativity – pioneering, a safer future, not only for Viet Nam but also for the ASEAN community, will be built.
Holding the event at Ha Noi National University of Education strongly underscores that education is a core foundation for building a disaster-resilient future.
Many northern provinces of Viet Nam are grappling with severe flooding following recent storms, yet these challenges have taught valuable lessons about the power of preparedness, the strength of solidarity, and the limitless potential of human creativity, the official said.
He underscored the role of young people, especially students, in disaster prevention and response, portraying them as a source of inspiration and the key holders of the future.
Highlighting the complexity of disasters and the severe funding shortfall for prevention efforts, Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, noted that Viet Nam should adopt the strategic approach advocated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, committing its own resources to build resilience rather than merely responding to disasters.
This strategic approach provides a foundation for addressing the increasingly severe threats posed by climate change, she said, stressing the need to turn this global priority into decisive national action.
Regarding three key actions in disaster risk management and prevention, Tamesis said it is necessary to enhance cooperation with stakeholders to improve disaster response and strengthen community resilience. She noted that building a resilient future also means engaging young people right now.
According to the UN official, the disaster risk reduction partnership is a unique forum where the Vietnamese Government, UN agencies, international donors, and civil society organisations come together to apply a unified approach to disaster risk reduction. For Viet Nam, the partnership needs to be strengthened, governance mechanisms enhanced, and youth and community empowerment advanced to foster a more resilient and prosperous nation.
At the event, representatives from international organisations shared information on disaster prevention and response, while young people contributed ideas through technological solutions and by integrating disaster risk reduction into educational activities.
On the same day afternoon, representatives of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control received the first batch of emergency aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for flood-affected residents in Bac Ninh province. In addition to the shipment from Japan, further aid is expected from the governments of Australia and Russia, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance, and several other international organisations.
