$96.2 million mobilized for national disaster response plan

On the morning of December 19, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership (DRRP) held a meeting to launch the 2025 Joint Response Plan and announce support from the United Nations emergency response fund.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) and Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam.

In 2025, Viet Nam suffered one of its most severe and prolonged storm and flood seasons in decades, leaving long-term impacts on its population, particularly vulnerable communities.

In this context, the 2025 Joint Response Plan was developed by the United Nations in close cooperation with the Government of Viet Nam and both domestic and international partners. Based on rapid assessments, the plan identifies the most urgent humanitarian and recovery needs of affected populations and outlines a roadmap for long-term resilience and climate change adaptation.

The supplementary annex of the 2025 JRP was also established to ensure that response activities remain aligned with the evolving situation in affected provinces. Notably, the Annex makes an urgent appeal for $96.2 million to provide life-saving assistance and recovery support for 1.4 million people in the hardest-hit provinces across Northern and Central Viet Nam.

Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tien stated that upcoming solutions will focus on repairing and rebuilding housing, supporting livelihood restoration, and recovering essential public infrastructure.

In parallel, activities will be implemented to build capacity for local organizations, enhance community resilience, and promote a comprehensive recovery process, ensuring that no one is left behind. According to him, this is the very foundation of resilience: not only helping communities withstand shocks but also enabling them to adapt and develop sustainably after disasters.

“With the companionship of the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership members and our development partners, I am confident that the 2025 Joint Response Plan will make a significant contribution to protecting the lives and property of the people, while enhancing Viet Nam's resilience to the increasing challenges of climate change and natural disasters,” he shared.

According to Ms. Pauline Tamesis, this is an opportunity for all parties to promote long-term climate-resilient solutions jointly. The United Nations is preparing to conduct an After-Action Review to summarize best practices and identify areas for improvement, aiming toward preparations for the 2026 storm season. Simultaneously, a draft contingency plan is being finalized to further enhance readiness and response capacity in the coming time.

“Our efforts will also focus on strengthening disaster risk management capacity at the community level, supporting the Government in upgrading early warning systems, and promoting digital transformation to improve disaster preparedness,” the UN leader in Viet Nam stated. “Beyond emergency relief, the updated Joint Response Plan outlines a clear recovery roadmap. Through these initiatives, Vietnam will be better equipped to respond more effectively to the growing challenges posed by climate change.”

The newly announced 2025 Joint Response Plan and its Annex identify three priority areas: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); Housing and essential items; and Food Security, under the principle of 'Building Back Better.' Both emergency response and early recovery activities are designed to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable communities against disaster risks.

In this approach, multi-purpose cash assistance plays a particularly vital role. This form of support empowers individuals, households, and communities to make decisions tailored to their actual needs, thereby ensuring dignity, flexibility, and ownership - core elements for recovery and resilience building. Experience shows that housing reconstruction and livelihood restoration are pivotal investments that help people stabilize their lives quickly, inspire confidence, and open a pathway to sustainable recovery for those most severely affected.