On December 12, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink launched Phase II of the Enhanced Capacity of the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) project on behalf of the U.S. Government. With an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Phase II of the VNRC project is expected to benefit 13,700 people directly and 30,000 people indirectly in three target provinces of Bac Lieu, Hoa Binh, and Quang Tri.
Phase II builds on the achievements of Phase I and will continue to utilize a community-based approach to help communes better prepare for and increase their resilience against disasters. Project activities include developing hazard risk reduction and disaster preparedness plans; providing training on water use, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies to teachers and students; organizing train the trainer courses for Provincial Disaster Response teams; developing and adapting Health Emergency Response Guides; and providing first aid and epidemic prevention training.
Vietnam remains vulnerable to a host of weather-related risks and climate change impacts. The recent typhoons Doksuri and Damrey clearly demonstrated the importance of being prepared and able to effectively respond to disasters.
Since 2000, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has provided more than $20 million to address emergency response needs and disaster risk management activities in Vietnam. Through the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Government has also provided more than $28 million since 1998 to train military and civilian emergency responders and develop and equip disaster management centers, maritime response centers, and disaster shelters at the community level.
