Hanoi Association of Information and Communication coordinated with the Saving the Children Organisation and the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction on May 21 to commemorate the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction (May 22).
The International Day for Disaster Reduction this year focuses on the need for communities to coordinate in coping with a possible natural catastrophe.
In 2008, natural disasters resulted in 537 people dead or missing. Natural losses were estimated VND13,000 billion. To reduce losses of people and assets, ministries and departments need to build strategic plans and disseminate information to increase awareness among communities.