On November 28th in Hanoi, Vietnam Red Cross and German Red Cross held a workshop to implement the project “Minimizing the impact of heat wave on vulnerable groups in Hanoi through capacity building for Viet Nam Red Cross on FBF” for early action on the basis of forecasts.
Attending the workshop were Mr. Tran Quoc Hung – Vice President of Vietnam Red Cross, Mr. Jerome Faucet, Representative of German Red Cross in Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Sy Truong – Chairman of Hanoi Red Cross; The Red Cross branches in 12 districts in Hanoi and other related national and international organizations.
At the workshop, Mr. Tran Quoc Hung – Vice President of VNRC, emphasized the serious impacts of climate change, the process of urbanization affecting the disaster in recent years. Confirming the field of warnings and forecasts is one of the top priorities in overcoming and mitigating the damages of natural disasters.
Besides sharing the difficulties and challenges that the project faces as the accuracy of the forecasts of natural disasters in Vietnam, the standard threshold for heat wave to act before the disasters, Mr. Hung hopes that representatives of participating agencies to contribute their ideas so that the project can well implement the activities to create the premise to expand the model FbF in the local and other types of natural disasters.
In Vietnam as well as in other countries around the world, humanitarian activities in natural disasters often focus on emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and livelihoods following disasters. However, over the past 20 years, VNRC has focused on disaster response to natural disasters such as mangroves for dyke protection, training courses on prevention and response to natural disasters. However, the effectiveness of disaster mitigation has yet to be optimized. “The use of FbF in Vietnam can be seen to be a new step in humanitarian efforts,” said Mr. Tran Quoc Hung.
The project “Impact mitigation of heat waves on vulnerable groups in Hanoi” through the FbF method, implemented from June 2018 to October 2020, aims to develop early action which helps to reduce the negative impact of heat wave on the health of vulnerable groups (elderly people, people with disabilities, chronically ill people and street vendors).
With funding of € 325,000, the project is supported by the German Red Cross, in collaboration with the Institute for Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN). The VNRC in applying coping strategies to other types of natural disasters such as storms, floods, etc.
The project will be implemented in a 7-step process: risk assessment; Identification of hydro-meteorological forecasting information; Identify levels that affect the local community; Early action options; Develop a standard action plan; Evaluating standard action procedures; Tracking forecasting information.
In 2013, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has implemented a FbF approach, which is a mechanism to mobilize resources for early response to natural disasters. It helps humanitarian relief operations take place before a disaster strikes, reducing the impact of natural disasters on the people more effectively. It can be said that the FbF method opens a new era for optimal performance for humanitarian activities.
Sharing the report on the results of the heat wave in Hanoi, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung – Representative of the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change said: In Hanoi, in recent years temperature has been increasing both in level and duration of each heat wave. Alerts can be made within 3 months, 1 month and 3 days, providing the best forecasting information.
Mr. Jerome Faucet, Representative of German Red Cross in Vietnam, said: “This is the first of 22 FbF projects to be implemented in urban areas, namely the response to heat wave. Meteorological hydrographic forecasting information is the basis for triggering early response actions to enhance the effectiveness of disaster response activities. “
The implementation of this project in Vietnam not only helps vulnerable people against heat wave but also helps VNRC to access a new, effective humanitarian approach. High response to various types of natural disasters, thereby enhancing the role of VNRC position in humanitarian relief activities in the country and internationally.
Nho Quế
Translated by Nguyen Vinh Hoa