The Ministry of Health and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on March 7 inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on efficient natural disaster, calamity and emergency response.

At the signing ceremony (Photo: moh.gov.vn)

In addition, a document providing guidance on management of dead bodies following natural disasters and other emergencies was presented at the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son voiced his belief that the MoU will bring about positive and humanitarian outcomes, contributing to the development of Vietnam’s forensic medicine. 

Vietnam suffers an average annual loss of about 400 people who are killed or go missing due to natural disasters, as well as losses of hundreds of millions of US dollars.

The country has taken measures to cope with climate change and prevent natural disasters, especially to improve the legal framework on natural disaster risk reduction, in which the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control plays a key role. 

Last year, 13 storms and 14 severe flash floods and landslides struck Vietnam. The natural disasters cost some 20 trillion VND (862 million USD) and caused 218 deaths.-VNA