Hanoi held a meeting o­n October 13 to launch the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction with the theme “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready”.

The Joint Advocacy Network Initiative (JANI) chose Hanoi to organise the event, along with participation of other cities.

An United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative in Vietnam, Setsuko Yamazaki, said natural disasters cause huge property and human losses every year. This year’s theme is of importance as Vietnam has celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, she said. Preserving Hanoi’s beauty and socio-economic achievement requires all people make Hanoi and other cities across the country safer.

Dao Xuan Hoc, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention and Control, said at the launch ceremony Vietnam has implemented many policies and strategies o­n natural disaster prevention and mitigation, especially at grassroots level, to maintain sustainable development and minimize property and human losses caused by disasters.

He asked Hanoi and other cities to register in the list of world cities “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready” to improve public awareness of disaster reduction.

Trinh Huy Hung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said Hanoi is ready to follow international commitment and register to the “making cities resilient” campaign.

At the ceremony, the organizing board presented environmental awards to students.