US Agency, NGO Help Strengthen Disaster Preparedness in Vietnam

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Peace Winds America have launched the Sister Cities Disaster Preparedness Program in Vietnam’s northern city of Haiphong. The three-year initiative will encourage small and medium-sized businesses to promote business resilience and public-private partnership (PPP) in Haiphong. Receiving $1.68 million from the USAID, the program will provide technical assistance for participating businesses to build their capacity of drawing up plans in response to disasters, minimizing risks and accelerating post-disaster recovery. About 2,000 enterprises will benefit from the program. Being one of five hardest-hit countries by climate change, Vietnam suffers a loss worth 1.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) from natural disasters annually. Since 2009, foreign countries and organizations funded the country roughly $1 billion to help it conduct climate change response programs. (Vietnamplus.vn May 16, peacewindsamerica.org May)