UNESCO Office in Viet Nam, in coordination with Nghe An People’s Committee, convened the inception workshop for the project “Strengthening capacity of Viet Nam for early warnings, disaster risk reduction and safer learning environments.”
In recent years, Viet Nam has experienced a series of severe disasters, including Typhoons Wipha, Bualoi and Matmo. These events caused loss of life, damaged infrastructure and livelihoods, and disrupted teaching and learning in multiple communities. They have highlighted the need to strengthen preparedness across communities, public services and schools.
The workshop marks the start of project implementation in Nghe An, with activities focused on Tuong Duong and Muong Xen communes, within the UNESCO Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve. The project will upgrade near/real-time early warning systems and strengthen the preparedness and resilience of communities.
Turning early warning data into local decisions
In mountainous areas, the time between the first signs of danger and the onset of a disaster can be very short. The effectiveness of an early warning system therefore depends on near/real-time monitoring, the rapid communication of information and the ability of local authorities and communities to turn warnings into timely decisions.
UNESCO will work with partners to review disaster risk management plans and emergency response arrangements; assess existing early warning systems and disaster risk maps; support the development or updating of flash-flood and landslide hazard maps in the two pilot communes of Tuong Duong and Muong Xen; and examine options to upgrade the early warning system, including related infrastructure at the provincial level and in selected high-risk locations.
As shared through Japan’s experience at the workshop, an effective early warning system connects four elements: risk knowledge; monitoring and forecasting; warning communication; and preparedness to respond. A warning becomes useful when people understand the risks they face, know when to evacuate and have a clear route to safety.
Mr Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam, emphasized: “An effective early warning system must be people-centred, locally understood and connected to clear action. Through this project, UNESCO aims to help ensure that every warning leads to timely action, reducing losses and protecting lives, especially those of children and communities most at risk. The project will draw on Japan’s long-standing experience in disaster preparedness, early warning systems and disaster education, adapting relevant lessons to the local context of Nghe An.”
Making school safety a priority
Disasters can damage school facilities, disrupt learning and place children at particular risk. The project therefore aims to strengthen school safety and protect children’s right to continue learning by making schools part of local disaster preparedness and response systems, rather than focusing mainly on recovery.
Nghe An has already taken steps to strengthen disaster preparedness in schools. The next priority is to build practical capacity, improve readiness, and help teachers and students apply what they know to the specific risks they face in their own communities.
UNESCO will work with education authorities and schools to develop participatory school disaster preparedness planning tools involving teachers, students and the wider school community. The project will train a core group of education officials and teachers, then support selected schools in the project area to pilot school disaster preparedness plans.
This approach focuses on three practical needs: identifying hazards in and around schools, setting out clear roles and response procedures, and preparing measures to keep learning going during disasters and throughout the recovery period.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-launches-disaster-early-warning-and-support-school-safety-project-viet-nam?hub=701
