Disaster Risk Reduction Practitionners Workshop

Bangkok 13-14 November 2013

“More to lose……lessons from Vietnam”

Development Workshop France

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Vietnam

Disasters in VN

HUE Cecil 1985

HUE Flood 1999

Xangsane 2006

Natural disastersAnnual losses 1% GDP

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Wutip & Nari 2013

National Strategy for DRR National Target Programme

for Climate Change National Programme on

CBDRM Law on DRR have been prepared, voted, and are implemented.

But more poor,

more vulnerable people,

more affected by natural

disasters!

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Who can reduce vulnerability ?

Family, local

authorities, &

government

Policy, law, codes, regulations

Land

Funding, savings & loans

Building materials & techniques

Intellectual and physical labour

Hazards & risks

Infrastructure & services Family

needs, wishes, capacity, vision of future

HOUSE

Household level

Housing stock (Data 2009)

Vietnam

Urban

Rural

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

< 19751975-19992000-2009

Vietnam

< 1975

1975-1999

2000-2009

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

PermanentSemi-permanentLess-permanentSimple

People struggle for « better » homes

Despite poverty, over the past 30 years families have incrementally replaced bamboo and thatch houses with more durable structures, building what they believe is a stronger house.

Sadly, few houses have been either well built or completely finished and they cannot resist a strong storm.

Stronger materials, but badly used

Vulnerability is increasing: there is more to lose !

Precious family investment in the home is at serious risk from annual typhoons and floods.

Unneccesary damage could be avoided.

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Families have had to cope on their own for reconstruction.

• There has been little support and no recognition of the important contribution families can make to damage prevention.

• Rebuilding costs many times more than any support they get from the state.

When disaster strikes…

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For families, damage prevention is the best option

Preventive strengthening at domestic level needs to made a priority.

It is cheaper, it is easy, and it is socially appropriate

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BUILDING SAFER & BETTER !

The DWF project objective is to reduce vulnerability

and damage in houses and small infrastructure.

The DWF project helps protect family investment

in shelter and enables investment in

improvements, not repairs.

Making new and existing houses strong and safe

SubsidyLoans

Temporary house

Vulnerable house

Technical support

Stronger houses

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One message, many media:“prevent flood & storm

damage”

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10 generic principles of safer construction

Hou

sing

pre

venti

ve re

info

rcem

ent

2000 – 2009Canada, DIPECHO

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Hue 2008

2011

20106 Provinces

2012, 2013Mekong Delta

Impact & diffusion

Recognition of interest at local level for housing preventive reinforcement Built on practices, training, demonstration, public campaign more than on building codes Working with main actors of house construction: builders / families Pilot demonstration leads to acceptance by local authorities & families Models diffused also through reconstruction programmes

Recognition of interest at national level, through conferences, awards, visits and collaboration for Atlas on Vulnerability.

Su

pp

ort to

the N

ation

al Pro

gram

me

of S

afe Ho

usin

g in

Flo

od

Pro

ne A

reas o

f the M

inistry o

f Co

nstru

ction

DIPECHO 2012-2013

Ministry of Construction - Programme 716

Support to families to build safe house part in high flood areas (>1,5 m)- Subsidy (500$) & preferential loan (500$) & family contribution- Technical advices & supervision- 700 families in pilot phase / 60 000 in extension phase

DWF Technical assistance – with Ministry & Departments of Construction In each province (13) of central Vietnam

- Survey of vulnerability of housing- Atlas of vulnerability and solutions for safe housing in different contexts- Model houses built- Public buildings / evacuation centre built at village level- Provincial workshops with District & Commune technicans- Public campaign / Films (Provincial & National TV)

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Safe during Wutip typhoon !

Lessons learned (1)

DWF• Duration : DWF 25 years in Vietnam, permanently since 13 years in Thua Thien

Hue (central Vietnam).• From demonstration at Community level, to cooperation at Provincial level, and

advice at National level.• Long process of knowledge, trust and interest.• Method transferred to other countries (Myanmar, Haiti, Indonesia)

Safe housing• Housing is one of sector most affected by natural disasters, but often considered

only for reconstruction after disaster, not in disaster risk reduction.• Safer house = safe (location) + reinforced (structure + walls + roof).• Local architectural traditions / materials and techniques – with key resistant

principles or standards.• Prevention measures (not only just before disaster) have to be supported.• Reinforcing a “common” house costs about 10 - 25% of initial cost.

For families, builders, technicians, decision makers and INGO’s

• Families : Great demand / housing reinforcement stabilises families; but incentive are needed.

• Builders : Difficult to change ways of building (usually saving materials and money) but demonstration and training is a good way to

change their methods.

• Technicians : Construction technicians have some knowledge about impact of

disasters on housing, but often forget it during design and construction supervision process.

• Decision makers: Immediate preparedness is more considered than long term prevention. Face to huge damage to housing and public buildings, policy is changing; the Ministry of Construction is

now considering not only housing but housing in disaster areas.

• INGO’s : Housing is not a priority sector / complicated and costly. Providing only roofing materials for example is not a solution,

without technical advices, and reinforcement of roof structure.

Lessons learned (2)

DW France John NortonB.P. 13 82110 Lauzerte France

DW Viet Nam Guillaume Chantry 21 Ngoc AnhPhu Thuong – Phu Vang Thua Thien Hué Province, Viet Namdwvn@dwf.orgwww.dwf.org

Financed by: IFRC (2010, 2013),

European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department

(ECHO/DIPECHO) (2003 – 2013), Ford Foundation (2008 – 2013)

CIDA IHA (2000 – 2002)

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