Women key to dealing with disaster risks: UN Women official
Women in Asia – Pacific have capability and ability, and they are key to dealing with disaster risks and developing livelihoods for themselves and the community, said Roberta Clarke from UN Women.
The conference takes place in Hanoi from May 16 - 18 (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Women in Asia – Pacific have capability and ability, and they are key to dealing with disaster risks and developing livelihoods for themselves and the community, said Roberta Clarke – UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Paౠcific.
She added that women should be facilitated to lead the implementation of disaster risk reduction priorities in the region as well as in each country and locality.
Roberta Clarke made the remark at the Regional Asia-Pacific Conference on Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction in Hanoi on May 16.
The event was attended by representatives from the Vietnamese Government, ministries and institutes, international organisations, and specialists from 22 countries.
Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said it is a fact in his country that women are the first persons to gear up their families for natural disasters, and also the first to bring the life of their communities back to normal.
Phat, who chairs Vietnam’s central steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control, called for all countries’ coordination to integrate gender perspectives into road maps for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 – 2030).
The Sendai Framework was adopted at the third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. It says: “A gender, age, disability and cultural perspective should be integrated in all policies and practices, and women and youth leadership should be promoted.”
The Asia – Pacific nations are devising action plans on carrying out the Sendai Framework.
During the three-day conference, participants will discuss measures for enhancing gender equality and promoting women’s leadership in priorities such as knowledge about disaster risks; strengthening disaster risk management; investing in response, recovery and adaptation during disaster risk reduction; and increasing preparations for effective response, recovery and rebuilding.
They will also mull over the connection between natural disasters and climate change, the role of climate change prevention in addressing challenges in disaster risk reduction and promoting gender equality through community-based disaster risk management.-VNA
Solutions were proposed to strengthen the partnership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum for natural disaster response and reduction to ensure a sustainable community.
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Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
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Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
The conference takes place in Hanoi from May 16 - 18 (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)
