DW in Viet Nam DW's mission in Viet Nam is to support the development of local capacity to improve living conditions, to reduce poverty and to reduce vulnerability to the consequences of natural disasters. DW first worked in Viet Nam in 1989 – 1992, in the central provinces demonstrating storm resistant building techniques funded by UNDP and Australian Aid. Between 1990 and 1992 DW continued to work with partner organisation GRET in the north of Viet Nam on assisting Human Settlements Planning and Development of Rural Areas (with UNCHS/UNDP support). Building on past Viet Nam experience, in 1998 DWF initiated a programme in Thua Thien Hué Province, funded by CIDA (Canadian International Development Aid), to develop local capacities and demonstrate that preventive strengthening of existing buildings is cost effective and efficient. It showed that animation activities with popular involvement encourage people and authorities to engage in preventive strengthening. DWF defined the role of Commune Damage Prevention Committees as commune partners for the DWF activities. In the follow on phases in 2001 - 2002, funded by FAVC (Fonds Aide Viet Nam Canada) and then CIDA, DWF added a pilot programme providing credit for house strengthening to poor families organised into family groups, and thanks to this start the credit support continues. The level of family contributions for strengthening has increased overall to nearly 60% with a high amount of direct family input. Since 2003 DW Disaster Reduction activities focussed on preventive strengthening of existing homes have been supported by the EC Humanitarian aid office, ECHO, in the context of ECHO’s disaster prevention programme, DIPECHO.

Tiempo Climate Newswatch
Disaster Reduction Measures for Typhoons and Floods:
James Lewis discusses the need for a comprehensive approach to limiting typhoon and flood impacts in Vietnam and elsewhere.
The author is a researcher and writer on natural hazards, construction and development. He has worked as a consultant in Bangladesh, Africa and island states in the South Pacific and the Caribbean