Donors from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) are, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong Online, in Vietnam to know first-hand how the country is increasingly becoming more prepared and resilient to the devastating effects of natural disasters. The disaster-prone country saw more than 160 people killed by super Typhoon Ketsana last week and is facing super Typhoon Parma, which killed dozens in the Philippines.
Sweden, Norway, and Finland are parts of the GFDRR.
Broad delegation
The natural disasters the GFDRR delegation pays attention to include typhoons, floods, earthquakes and other events that systematically affect Vietnam and its neighbours.
The delegation represents, besides Finland, Norway and Sweden also countries like France, Japan. The donors are to meet with government authorities, GFDRR, and World Bank staff to discuss the impact of recent disasters in the region and ways to further support government initiatives for sustainable recovery and longer term reconstruction, according to the announcement.
“Countries in the region are affected by 50 percent of all recorded natural disasters and 82 percent of all population affected in the world live here,” Per Byman from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and GFDRR Co-chair, said in the statement.
Byman added, “GFDRR is bringing a systematic and innovative approach to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation that provide East Asian Pacific countries with adequate tools to account for disasters in their development planning and to have the adequate tools to mitigate the economic and social impacts once a disaster hits.”
With GFDRR support, a strategy is being implemented in the region, focused on supporting country-led disaster risk management programs and investments.
