Extreme weather events in Vietnam have become so common, that some people now see them as normal. Recently, typhoon Lekima struck central Vietnam causing major damage to communities in Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Thanh Hoan, and Ninh Binh. I arrived in Vietnam a week after Lekima, a little nervous to know how Vietnamese were dealing with what some reported were the worst floods in 20 years.
After traveling to the central provinces, I was disturbed to see the destruction of not only infrastructure but of livelihoods as well. Thousands of people have lost everything, and, to make things worst, the rice crops of the season were spoiled, jeopardizing food security for the area. But, in the mist of such dramatic event, I have come to see very effective strategies to respond to disasters like Lekima. The NGO Center of Vietnam is the main hub for non-profit work happening in Vietnam, tracking and networking with stakeholders working in all relevant fields in the country. Disaster management is one of them. The Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) facilitated by the NGO Center unifies every possible organization working on disaster-related activities, from UN agencies to community-based groups, and providing the government with place to coordinate efforts and improve aid delivery when needed.
In response to Lekima, the DMWG has been able to facilitate the work of different stakeholders assuring then that all areas are coverage and that needs are assessed across provinces to respond to areas with higher risk first. While there is still a lot to improve, the benefits of such organized network have been evident to me. Compared to other countries, Vietnam has been able to respond to emergencies faster, and is making significant progress is reducing mortality related with extreme weather events. Progress has not happened overnight, and it is important to understand the role that strategic partnerships and aid from donors has played in the Vietnamese governance framework. The contribution of international NGOs has also been remarkable, and it is worthwhile to consider how they can help promote similar approaches in other countries, particularly those with similar vulnerability and risk as Vietnam. Though one-size-fits-all approaches are never good, the lessons from Vietnam in network for disaster risk reduction should be considered elsewhere.