Stand with the disabled
This is an activity under the project “Supporting and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities (PWD) in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange, including 3 localities: Quang Nam (now Da Nang), Hue and Quang Tri” funded by the National Action Center for Overcoming the Consequences of Toxic Chemicals and the Environment (NACCET - project owner) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to Article 3 of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, PWDs are one of the seven vulnerable groups in natural disasters. In addition to paying attention to the needs of PWDs in measures to prevent, respond to and overcome the consequences of natural disasters, it is necessary to promote their role in natural disaster prevention and control.
According to incomplete statistics, in the old Quang Nam province, there are more than 51,300 people with disabilities (accounting for about 3.4% of the population). People with disabilities often face many difficulties in preventing natural disasters. The main reason is that some physical barriers prevent most people with disabilities from having full access to knowledge and skills in preventing natural disasters, are limited in receiving early warning information about natural disasters, have difficulty evacuating to evacuation sites, and need someone to support and care for them during the evacuation process...
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khai - an officer of the Irrigation Department of Quang Nam province (formerly) said that it is necessary to continue improving the accessibility of evacuation sites for PWDs (public, multi-purpose works combined as convenient evacuation sites for PWDs to easily access).
Improve early warning systems for both PWDs and all citizens using appropriate audio and visual aids. Establish priority lists to support early warning and early evacuation for PWDs in villages and communes.
Pay attention to non-structural and structural measures with specific solutions to support vulnerable groups in general and PWDs in particular in the disaster prevention plans of communes and wards to support the community to be safe in natural disasters...
Survey the appropriate form of support
Expert Bui Quang Huy - Deputy Director of the Center for Policy and Techniques for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) proposed that localities need to conduct field surveys and update databases on types of disabilities, levels of access, and support needs in the community.
It is necessary to ensure that people with disabilities can access early warning information about natural disasters through multiple channels, suitable for the characteristics of each type of disability (audio, images with subtitles/sign language, braille, etc.).
Authorities need to organize training courses on disaster prevention skills for PWDs, families and communities, combined with practical drills in the locality. In particular, when upgrading or constructing new storm/flood shelters, accessibility factors for PWDs must be taken into account, such as ramps, wide walkways, handrails, and evacuation support vehicles, etc.
Mr. Hua Quoc Dung - Chairman of the Association of People with Disabilities in Quang Nam Province (formerly) said that natural disasters are becoming more and more complicated, occurring with greater frequency and intensity. Meanwhile, people with disabilities are the group that is heavily impacted and vulnerable if there is no specific response plan.
“Access to information, evacuation capabilities, support facilities, and response skills are not guaranteed, which will make the risk of damage to PWDs many times higher than that of other groups. Therefore, integrating support for PWDs is not only to comply with the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, but more importantly, it is an affirmation of community responsibility, not leaving anyone behind,” Mr. Dung shared.
According to Ms. Doan Thi Hoai Nhi - Deputy Director of the Department of Health , integrating support for people with disabilities into the disaster prevention plan is a content with profound humanistic meaning.
“Project implementing agencies, departments, and localities need to identify the integration of support for PWDs into disaster prevention plans as a very important task. These are core elements that bring long-term effectiveness when integrated into each locality’s disaster prevention plans,” said Ms. Nhi.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/ho-tro-nguoi-khuet-tat-phong-chong-thien-tai-de-xuat-trien-khai-nhieu-hoat-dong-thiet-thuc-3265018.html
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