Mobilizing national reserves for flood response and relief

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhsigned Official Telegram No. 226/CD-TTg on November 21, 2025, regarding the strengthening of management and utilization of national reserves to support storm and flood response in the Central Region.

The directive is addressed to the Ministers of National Defense, Public Security, Finance, Agriculture and Environment, and Health; as well as the Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of centrally-run provinces and cities including Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong.

The telegram notes that throughout November 2025, heavy rains and flooding in the Central Region have caused widespread deep inundation and severe landslides. These disasters have disrupted traffic, severed key arterial routes, and directly impacted the safety, lives, and livelihoods of the population.

The Government and the Prime Minister have issued multiple directives focusing on disaster response and recovery, commending local party committees and authorities for their significant efforts in recent storm and flood prevention. Localities have urgently evacuated residents from dangerous zones and deployed rescue forces to assist the public.

To strengthen the management, release, and use of national reserves for continued support in disaster recovery, livelihood stabilization, and post-flood disease prevention, the Prime Minister requires Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairpersons of the aforementioned Provincial People's Committees to immediately implement the following tasks:

Reviewing reserve goods for immediate release

The Ministry of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with relevant Ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Review national reserve goods to ensure the variety, quantity, and quality meet requirements for immediate release during unexpected and urgent situations serving disaster prevention, flood relief, and landslide response.

b) Consolidate local demands for national reserve goods to make immediate decisions on allocating support and relief within its authority and current regulations. This ensures aid reaches the affected people rapidly, timely, and accurately in terms of beneficiaries, type, quantity, and quality.

c) Direct national reserve units to maintain 24-hour readiness of vehicles and personnel to transport and deliver reserve goods. Delivery must be organized at designated locations, ensuring safety during transportation and handover.

d) Continue to review and perfect national reserve institutions to ensure synchronous, proactive preparation of resources and reserve capacity. This aims to provide rapid and effective support, preventing passivity in all situations, particularly during unexpected emergencies.

Distributing reserves to isolated and deeply flooded areas

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, in accordance with their functions and authority, shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and localities to:

a) Review national reserve goods under their management and proactively release supplies according to their authority and regulations to assist localities in disaster recovery and search and rescue operations.

b) Mobilize forces and vehicles to participate in the transportation, preservation, and distribution of national reserve goods to areas that are cut off or deeply flooded, ensuring security and order during the reception and distribution of relief supplies.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Health, in accordance with their functions and authority, shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and localities to:

a) Prepare the full quantity and variety of national reserve goods according to assigned plans; consolidate local demands for agricultural and medical reserves to be ready for allocation and support according to regulations.

b) Direct relevant units to organize the release, transportation, and delivery of national reserve goods in a timely, compliant, and convenient manner.

Direct allocation to affected residents: Timely, transparent, and corruption-free

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall:

a) Closely monitor the developments of natural disasters, floods, and landslides within their territories; proactively report and accurately determine the urgent needs for national reserve goods during and after floods to timely propose support from Ministries and agencies.

b) Organize the reception, management, and use of allocated national reserve goods for the correct purposes and beneficiaries. Authorities must direct grassroots administration to distribute aid directly to every affected household and individual—paying special attention to poor households, policy families, and residents in isolated areas. The process must be rapid, timely, public, and transparent, strictly preventing any negativity, loss, or waste.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and assigned Deputy Prime Ministers shall direct, urge, and inspect Ministries, agencies, and localities during the implementation of this Telegram.

The Government Office, in accordance with its assigned functions, shall monitor and urge the implementation of this Telegram, reporting matters exceeding its authority to competent levels.