On October 29 and 30 of 2021, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) in collaboration with the People's Committee CPC), Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue (CSFC) of Trung Son Commune and the club for PwDs held a drill to respond to natural disasters in Dinh quarter, Vo Xa village. This was organized within the project “Empowering people with disabilities” funded by Caritas Australia and DFAT. With the aim of including people with disabilities (PwDs) and reinforcing the local flood and storm prevention plan, the drill practiced some hypothetical situations that may occur in reality consisting of early warning, early evacuation, support of moving hushed rice in a higher place in the house and PwDs’ engagement in preparedness process. 91 participants were involved, representing district leaders, CPC members, and other project communes, nine PwD clubs, and 20 households in Ding quarter, Vo Xa village, Trung Son commune, where is often flooded in disaster season.
Speaking at the end of the drill, Mr. Tran Van Cuong, Chairman of Trung Son CPC said “The drill did help the CPC and CFSC with practicing and strengthening skills of coordinating in a number of scenarios that might happen in reality. Members of mass associations and PwDs with their families were mobilized in close collaboration during the entire process, reflecting the common responsibilities of the community as a whole in the inclusive disaster management and the importance of preparedness as well as the necessity of early warning and evacuation for the PwDs in case of need to ensure the safety of life and assets”.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Lam, head of Trung Son PwD Club stated, “This is a practical activity that helps a lot of people and especially people with disabilities like me in preparing and actively preventing in case of natural disasters. The able PwDs would be able to prepare in advance but the severe ones might need support from outside. The drill showed a close collaboration among the community people, local force and the PwDs with their families that would certainly help respond better in the coming disaster season”.
Mrs. Le Thi Thuy, a woman with mobility difficulty participating in the drill shared “We have learned from the drill how to self-manage and self-protect first as well as of disaster information update, of contacting local force available for support in case of early evacuation to a shelter. It is truly useful for us!”
Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
No.31, Alley 19 Kim Dong Street, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi
Phone: +84 24 3943 6676/78 | Fax: +84 24 3943 6449
