Australia, UNDP support sustainable recovery to Thai Nguyen province

Recently, Vice Chairman of the Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee Nong Quang Nhat hosted a working session with a delegation from the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam; the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA-MAE); and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The delegation was led by Ms. Renee Deschamps, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Viet Nam.

The meeting aimed to discuss orientations for cooperation in disaster recovery assistance, sustainable rehabilitation, and strengthening community resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Participants also included Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Director General of the VDDMA, and Mr. Vu Thai Truong, Head of the Climate Change, Energy and Environment Unit at UNDP Viet Nam.

Mr. Nong Quang Nhat said that in recent years, Thai Nguyen Province has been heavily affected by natural disasters. In 2025 alone, floods inundated 43 communes and wards, affecting around 200,000 households, including 3,463 that required emergency evacuation. More recently, thunderstorms and hail caused further damage, with 331 houses losing roofs and 157 hectares of crops affected.

On the evening and night of May 2, many areas across Thai Nguyen experienced rain, moderate rainfall accompanied by strong winds, and localized hailstorms, resulting in significant damage.

According to reports from local authorities, five people were injured province-wide, including two in Yen Trach Commune and three in Phu Lac Commune. More than 300 houses were damaged, mainly due to roof collapses, in communes including Phu Thinh, Phuong Tien, Tan Ky, Yen Trach, Thanh Thinh, Hop Thanh, Duc Luong, Trung Hoi, Phu Lac, and Yen Binh.

In response to these losses, Thai Nguyen provincial leaders expressed sincere appreciation for the timely support provided by the Australian Government and UNDP to local residents in disaster recovery efforts.

At the same time, Thai Nguyen hopes to continue receiving support and cooperation in climate change adaptation, disaster prevention for communities living along the Cau River, carbon credit development, attracting investment for industrial parks, and developing the province’s tea industry.

As part of the working program, the delegation announced a non-refundable aid package to implement the project “Emergency Response and Inclusive Early Recovery after Typhoon No. 10 (Typhoon Bualoi) and Typhoon No. 11 (Typhoon Matmo) in 2025” in Thai Nguyen Province. The project has a total budget of VND 6.5 billion and is expected to be implemented in 2026.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Renee Deschamps expressed her pleasure at visiting Thai Nguyen for the first time and highly appreciated the close coordination among partners in supporting post-storm recovery efforts in 2025. She noted that Australia had provided USD 3.8 million in assistance to disaster-affected communities in Viet Nam, focusing on vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

The delegation also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a small-scale public utility project supporting emergency response and inclusive early recovery after Typhoons No. 10 and No. 11 in 2025 in Dong Hy Commune, funded by the UNDP for Thai Nguyen Province.