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commune leaders and other personnel to understand the risks,
with the aid of the flood modelling presentations and maps,
followed by on-site planning and implementation of risk reduc-
tion measures.
Personnel from local organizations, particularly the Vietnam
Red Cross and the Women’s Union, were trained in community
risk assessment and disaster mitigation and preparedness. These
people then worked with and trained appropriate personnel in
each commune.
Rescue equipment and training have been provided to local
groups, and inter-commune and inter-district competitions have
created mutual support opportunities. Rescue training includes
swimming classes, which are of particular relevance to females
who traditionally have not been accustomed to swimming due
to social factors. A Red Cross Rescue Centre is being built in one
district, providing a possible model for other districts.
A schools safety programme was implemented. This involved
teaching over 800 primary school and kindergarten teachers
about the dangers of floods and appropriate safety measures.
These teachers, with the support of project-provided educational
materials, have now taught over 60,000 children. The number of
children drowning in recent floods has substantially declined.
The schools programme will be applied in another AusAID-
supported community-based disaster risk management project,
to be implemented by World Vision in neighbouring inland
districts.
Safety consciousness has been raised in fishing communities
through a communications programme followed by specific initia-
tives, including the subsidised sale of quality lifejackets. These
activities have been undertaken through the existing Fisheries
Extension Centre of the Department of Fisheries.
Community-based radio stations were established in five
fishing communes. Operators were selected by the commune
based on their previous experience as a fisher and their stand-
ing in the community. The operator interprets weather forecasts
and provides regular advice and warnings to fishers. Fishers are
also able to maintain contact with their community. The oper-
ational cost is supported by small, voluntary contributions from
each of the participating fisher households. Recent rescues using
the facility have resulted in national media coverage and a
request to extend this initiative to other coastal districts in the
province.
Sustainable disaster risk management capacity
The successful partnership between the implementation team
and the province has been highlighted by the Provincial People’s
Committee request for training in modelling and the establish-
ment of a Centre for Management and Mitigation of Natural
Disasters. Such a permanent establishment, within the current
agency of the Flood and Storm Control Committee, suggests a
strong commitment to sustainable implementation of disaster
risk management in terms of prevention, mitigation, prepared-
ness and response.
The Centre for Management and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
will be the focal point for:
• Use of the developed floodplain models for ongoing review
of floodplain master planning, land use and development
approvals
• Community-based risk management education and
consultation
• Inter-agency cooperation and training on disaster management
• Communication with agencies, district and commune
leaders and the public on disaster management
• Emergency planning and management during natural
disaster events.
Effective disaster risk management
The holistic and integrated approach demonstrated by the
QNNDMP suggests some important elements that contribute to
successful disaster risk management programmes in the context
of poverty reduction and sustainable development. These include:
• Support for the central role of local communities and
government in managing risk
• Integration of structural, non-structural and community-based
elements as well as prevention, mitigation, preparedness and
response activities
• Consideration of multiple hazards and the interrelation-
ships between different geographical regions in terms of
hazard behaviour, institutional governance and the struc-
tural, non-structural and community-based elements of the
initiative
• Integration of disaster risk management considerations into
medium and long-term development planning to prevent and
mitigate disasters in countries where development is occur-
ring at a rapid rate
• The use of modelling to integrate structural, non-structural
and community-based elements, focus disaster risk manage-
ment and development planning and catalyse political,
government and community understanding and agreement
• Capacity development of both technical personnel and
community leaders.
Australia’s aid programme is committed to promoting these
elements of successful disaster risk management by supporting
governments and communities in the Asia Pacific region as they
develop their own capacity to reduce the impact of natural
hazards and protect hard-won progress towards poverty reduc-
tion and sustainable development.
The schools safety programme has been enthusiastically taken up by
teachers and the provincial Department of Education and Training
Photo: Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd (KBR)