AWARENESS RAISING AND IMPROVE CAPACITY IN TSUNAMI RESPONSE IN VIETNAM Vietnam, 2023
1 Introduction 2 Tsunami preparedness activities 3 Lessons learned
• Vietnam is one of the most hazard-prone countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. With the coastline of 3,300 km, the country is exposed to hydro-meteorological hazards such as storms, floods, landslides, drought, water intrusion and coastal erosion • Vietnam is ranked among the five countries likely to be most affected by climate change. • There are 22 types of disasters in Vietnam. Only tsunami hasn’t happened.
Vietnam located in a geographical location that prone to potential tsunamis. The East Sea of Vietnam and its surrounding regions are home to nine potential tsunami sources that pose a threat to the country. These include: ▪ The 109°E Fault Zone ▪ The Northern region of the Vietnam East Sea ▪ The Palawan-Borneo region ▪ The Manila/Philippine Deep Trench ▪ The Taiwan Sea ▪ The Sulu Sea in the Philippines ▪ The Sea of Selebes in the Philippines ▪ The Northern Banda Sea ▪ The Southern Banda Sea in Indonesia. Risk of tsunami along the coast of Vietnam if an earthquake with maximum magnitude M = 9.3 occurs at the Manila/Philippine deep trench In response to the potential threat of tsunamis, the Government of Vietnam has prioritized the development and implementation of comprehensive tsunami warning systems and response strategies

A TSUNAMI CAN OCCUR ANYTIME
Tsunami, though infrequent can be potentially devastating. During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, in most places, tsunami less than 1 meter occurred first, and in several cases, tsunami higher than 5 meters or more were observed more than 20 minutes after the warning was issued. You cannot out-run a tsunami. But early warning, awareness and preparedness can save your life!
Organizational chart of the DRM system at central level (left) and in localities (right) Control Head: Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Standing Head: Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development Deputy Heads: 。 Deputy Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development Chairperson of National Committee for Search & Rescue o 。 Ministry of Public Security • | Members: Representatives of leaders of relevant ministries & departments Standing Agency: Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Standing Office: Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority Search & Rescue

1.Educational Program
• UNDP and VDDMA have organized campaigns to raise awareness and equip children with life-saving skills in response to tsunamis and disasters
1.Evacuation Drills
• Schools and communities regularly conduct evacuation drills to prepare for emergencies
1.Disaster Warning Stations:
• Invested in building multi- purpose disaster warning stations, including tsunami warning stations, in provinces that are most likely to be affected by tsunamis. 1.Disaster Supplies Kits:
1.Emergency Plans:
• Individuals and families are encouraged to make emergency plans, which include family communication and evacuation plans. • People are advised to put together portable disaster supplies kits for home, work, and cars.
1.Safe Evacuation Routes:
• Communities are encouraged to map out routes to safe places on high ground or inland and practice walking them to make them familiar.
. Select a school and a commune for evacuation drills and preparations . Hold consultation workshops to review the school/community evacuation plan . School evacuation drill at selected secondary school and communes . Hold summary workshops to finalize the multi-hazard plan after the drill
The program "School multi-hazard response drill" was held on August 23, 2022 at Le Loi Secondary School. Participants include: . VDDMA, JICA, UNDP . . The Quang Nam Provincial Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue 460 students of Le Loi Secondary School. The drill was conducted over a half-day period, with a focus on the following key components: . Dissemination of Knowledge: Information about tsunamis and multi-disasters was imparted to students and participants, enhancing their understanding of these natural phenomena. . Rehearsal of Scenarios: Participants engaged in practical exercises, rehearsing various scenarios for mechanism meetings and student evacuations.
The program "School multi-hazard response drill" was held August 24th, 2022 at Tam Thanh Commune, Tam Ky city, Quang Nam. Participants include: . VDDMA, JICA, UNDP . The Quang Nam Provincial Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue . 230 people in Tam Thanh commune. The drill program covered a variety of scenarios: . Meeting Mechanisms: Procedures and protocols for conducting meetings in disaster situations were practiced. . Tsunami Evacuation: Training was provided on evacuation procedures in the event of a tsunami. . Accident Response: The drill included scenarios on responding to accidents that might occur during evacuation, ensuring everyone's safety. . Evacuation of Infected Households: Special attention was paid to evacuation procedures for households with confirmed COVID-19 cases, emphasizing the importance of isolation. . Support for Vulnerable Populations : The program highlighted the need to provide additional support to vulnerable individuals in disaster situations
The tsunami hazard level in Vietnam is classified as medium, meaning there is more than a 10% chance of a potentially damaging tsunami occurring in the next 50 years. The community has never experienced the tsunami, it may pose challenges in raising their awareness Insufficient Data: The relatively infrequent nature of tsunamis poses several challenges to hazard assessment, including insufficient data to conduct meaningful statistical analysis of tsunami occurrence through time Early warning system will enable the successful evacuation and reduce consequential damages; however, the early warning system of Vietnam is not completed
1)Annual Drills: Conduct a minimum of two drills per year to evaluate the preparedness of schools. Plan Validation: Participants have confirmed the alignment of evacuation and tsunami response plans with the actual conditions at schools and communes. Expansion of Drills: Following successful drills in selected schools and communes in Tam Ky city, it is recommended that UNDP and VNDMA extend these drills to other high-risk coastal provinces. Policy Recommendation: UNDP and VNDMA should advocate for the Ministry of Education and Training and the Government to mandate annual evacuation drills in provinces at high risk of various disasters.
AWARENESS RAISING FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS In 2022, UNDP and VDDMA conducted a series of awareness- raising activities for students and community members. These activities included: 1. The support of 14 laptops. 2. The organization of 14 educational sessions. These initiatives were implemented at 10 selected secondary schools and 4 Commune People's Committees located in the coastal region of Quang Nam province, an area significantly impacted by tsunamis. The aim was to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience among these vulnerable communities. Location of 4 selected commune and 10 schools for the awareness raising activities

AWARENESS RAISING FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
. . The event was attended by approximately 350 students from 10 secondary schools and 130 participants from 4 coastal communes. Shared knowledge about tsunami hazards and strategies to mitigate risks associated with tsunamis and other natural disasters through a presentation. . To raise awareness about risks and promote best practices for preparedness and evacuation, educational videos on tsunamis were shown to students, teachers, and community members. . The information was well-received, with participants showing keen interest and finding the content useful.
THAI MINH HUONG Division of International Cooperation and Science Technology Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Email: Thaiminhhuong84@gmail.com