More than 800 people, mostly older people, took part in a meeting to mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) in southern My Tho City, Tien Giang province on October 13. 

This year, the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is chosen as one of three localities nationwide to host meetings to mark the IDDR with the theme “The elderly with disasters in 2014: Resilience for Life”.

Bui Quang Huy from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said since 2005, abnormal weather and unpredictable natural disasters have badly affected people’s lives, especially those in coastal, lower course of the Mekong Delta and mountainous areas.

Vietnam should complete its legal framework on natural disaster prevention and encourage the elderly to share experience in proactively adapting to climate change and mitigating natural risks. The elderly are one of most vulnerable groups, therefore they should receive proper care and support in the fight against natural disasters, Huy said.

He hoped that localities across the country will find specific and feasible solutions for climate change adaptation in order to ensure safety for the people in stricken areas.

Ayka Arai, Director of Save the Children Japan, shared experience that Japan gained during its fight for tsunami and earthquake. She heightened close coordination among ministries, departments, localities and international organisations in disseminating information to raise people’s awareness on keeping calm to cope with natural disasters, expanding valuable lessons and protecting vulnerable groups like women, children and the elderly.

Le Van Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Tien Giang provincial People’s Committee, said in addition to completing infrastructure for social welfare, Tien Giang has paid due attention to disseminating information to raise people’s awareness on climate change adaptation, combining disaster management with socio-economic development, accelerating the application of science and technology in natural disaster mitigation, and building early warning system.