Almost 5.000 Flood-resistant Houses Built in 7 Vietnamese Provinces

4,966 safe and solid houses were built for more than 25,000 people in areas frequently hit by storms and floods during the past seven years.
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The Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, on November 17 organized a closing workshop of the project "Improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to the impacts of climate change in Vietnam."

Implemented from 2017 to 2024, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with co-funds from Vietnnam, the project has brought about clear positive impacts in enhancing the resilience of coastal communities to the growing challenges of climate change. The project has been implemented in 7 vulnerable coastal provinces, including Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Ca Mau.

Almost 5.000 Flood-resistant Houses Built in 7 Vietnamese Provinces
Handing over safe houses to people in Ca Mau province. Photo: Chu Khoi

The project has achieved results beyond expectations after more than 7 years of implementation. With 4,966 safe houses built, the project provided solid housing for more than 25,000 people in areas frequently affected by storms and floods. These houses protect people's lives and property and become models integrated into the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction.

In addition, the project has regenerated 4,028 hectares of mangrove forests, acting as "natural shields" to protect communities from high tides and storms while absorbing more than 1.1 million tons of CO2, contributing positively to Vietnam's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the project also supported the development of sustainable livelihood models such as beekeeping in Thanh Hoa, helping people increase their income while encouraging the protection of mangrove forests.

In disaster risk management, the project has established an early warning system in 24 high-risk communes and organized training for more than 62,000 officials and people, of whom nearly 50% are women. These programs have contributed to improving the capacity and awareness of the community in responding to natural disasters, helping to minimize damage in emergencies.

Almost 5.000 Flood-resistant Houses Built in 7 Vietnamese Provinces
Ramla Khalidi, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, speaks at the event. Source: UNDP in Vietnam

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, emphasizes the fact that coastal communities in Vietnam are facing the increasing impacts of climate change. The project, she said, has shown that resilience is not just a goal, but can be achieved through collaboration, innovation and the continued commitment of stakeholders to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against climate change.

Also at the conference, Nguyen Van Tien, deputy director of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control and also project director points out that the project is a clear demonstration of the close coordination between different parties, overcoming many difficulties to achieve encouraging results.

Lessons learned from the project will be integrated into national programmes such as the Coastal Forest Protection and Development Programme for Climate Change Adaptation.

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