Today, on the Day of Viet Nam National Disaster Prevention and Control, the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced nine winners of the first-ever video competition "Extreme disaster events in Viet Nam: Lessons from the past, actions for the future". The competition aimed to raise awareness and promoted communication on disaster prevention to help communities better understand natural disasters' impacts and encourage their active participation in preparedness and response. The competition also supported the Sendai Framework targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievements that aim to reduce loss of life and damage caused by natural hazards.
Four months after the launching day, 15 November 2017, the competition's organizers had received over 78 videos coming from all parts of the country. Most videos reflected on the nature of severe disasters, the difficulties, losses and damages that people living in disaster-prone areas experience, and provided practical solutions for the governments and local communities. Many of the videos have had lasting effect on the audiences.
The first winner is a video from Khanh Hoa Provincial Radio and Television named "Never underestimate a disaster". The second winner is "Flashflood in Mu Cang Chai – Causal effects and recommendations" produced by the Center of Weather Forecasting and Disaster Warning of the Viet Nam Television; and "Story of the Pond" by Nguyen Van Hoa of Soc Trang Provincial Radio and Television. Three third prizes were announced at the ceremony.
Natural disasters in Viet Nam are complex and sometimes do not obey usual physical rules. Over the past 20 years, 400 people get killed or go missing because of natural disasters each year. Economic losses are estimated to absorb 1 to 1.5 percent of Viet Nam's annual GDP. Disaster prevention is therefore essential.
"The role of communication is particularly important in minimizing damage caused by natural disasters. Disaster forecasting and information should be communicated promptly and accurately to everyone through various media channels," Mr. Tran Quang Hoai, Director General of the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said.
Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Country Director expressed: "Today's event recognizes the important role of media in bringing knowledge and skills that contribute to the efforts of disaster risk reduction. It also reminds each of us, either media or mass organization, public and private sectors, national or international organizations, to look for new initiatives, undertake more effective measures to build people's resilience to disasters and ensure that no one is left behind."
At the ceremony, experts also discussed lessons learned from the past and actions for the future and the role of communication in disaster risk reduction and management.
Attending the ceremony were representatives of VNDMA, UNDP, embassies, non-governmental organizations, the national media, competition's participants and students from the Journalism University.
After this competition great success, VNDMA and UNDP launched the 2018 video competition "Reducing direct disaster economic loss and actively adaptation from community level". Detail information will be posted at: http://www.phimphongchongthientai.com
Watch the first prize video: http://phimphongchongthientai.com/video/049-dung-dua-voi-thien-tai/