Caitlin wiesen

Over 26,000 storm-affected people supported

May 1, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Over 26,000 storm-affected people supported

The Saigon Times

UNDP resident representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen (R) poses for a photo with a recipient of the program at the handover ceremony on April 29 – PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNDP

HCMC – More than 26,000 poor and near-poor people affected by recent storms and floods in central provinces such as Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue have been provided stabilization support.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the local authorities and the Red Cross have completed the repair and reinforcement of storm-resilient features for more than 3,300 damaged houses and provided 3,323 gender-responsive household kits for poor and near-poor households in these provinces.

This emergency assistance is part of the “Response to Disasters in Vietnam” project funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. In addition, UNDP has supported the construction of 20 new safe houses with full storm- and flood-resilient features in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. Those in Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai Province, have particularly more resilient features and are powered by solar panels.

Since last October, central Vietnam has been impacted by a series of successive intense storms and record-level floods. According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, more than 230 people were reported dead or missing and at least 380,000 houses were flooded, damaged or destroyed.

In the aftermath, tens of thousands of the most vulnerable were left with nothing but damaged houses, destroyed livelihoods and ruined crops. Many people lost almost all of their household possessions to the floodwaters and many others became homeless, making the lives of the poor and near-poor, who already have minimal resources, even more difficult.

Addressing the handover of the new resilient and repaired houses to local low-income households on April 29, Tran Van Tan, vice chairman of Quang Nam Province, said, “We highly appreciate UNDP’s efforts and timely assistance in building and repairing the damaged houses of the poor to help them recover from disasters. We hope to continue to receive support to help vulnerable people have a better life.”

Representing the poor households who received the support, Luu Thi Phuong from Que Son District thanked UNDP, the Provincial People’s Committee and the Red Cross, saying, “Without this support, I don’t know when my sons and I would be able to build such a resilient house.”

According to Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, the resilient houses have saved thousands of lives during the historic floods and storms that battered the central region. However, there is still a long way to go to reach all those in need. For this reason, UNDP is also organizing a crowdfunding campaign, “Safe houses save lives”, to support the construction of an initial 100 new houses in highly vulnerable locations.

“In particular, our houses on Ly Son Island will have a new and strengthened design addressing the special conditions of the wind forces impacting the islands and a rooftop solar system capable of providing a sufficient lighting system for the households,” she added.

Moreover, with the support of the Green Climate Fund, the Government of Vietnam and UNDP, more than 430 safe houses able to withstand storms and floods have been built for the poor and near-poor in Quang Nam Province from 2018 until now.

UNDP helps 26,000 flood-hit people overcome hardship

May 1, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The support is a years-long project helping improve climate resilience in Vietnam’s coastal communities.

Resilient houses that are designed to withstand both flooding torrents and strong winds are concrete support given by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to roughly 26,000 residents in Vietnam’s flood-prone areas.

UNDP-supported house in Thua Thien-Hue. Photo: Baothuathienhue

UNDP has completed the repair and reinforcement of storm-resilient features for more than 3,323 damaged houses and provided 3,323 gender-responsive household kits for poor and near-poor households in five provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai.

This emergency assistance is part of the project “Response to Disasters in Vietnam” funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

In addition, UNDP has supported the construction of 20 new safe houses with full storm- and flood-resilient features in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, especially those in Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai equipped with more resilient features and powered by solar panels.

Bigger project

The project draw different stakeholders. Photo: UNDP Vietnam

The buildings are part of “Improving resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change-related impacts in Vietnam” project launched in 2017 to improve the resilience of coastal communities to climate change in Vietnam, funded jointly by UNDP, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Vietnamese government.

The new storm- and flood-resilient houses are based on simple designs to create a stronger structure. Features include a mezzanine level for flooding protection, reinforced roofing, and the use of strong cement. The mezzanine level allows residents to comfortably stay in their houses during a disaster, safe from high flood levels. This level can also be used as an area to store valuables during disasters and avoid it being washed away or spoiled by flooding waters.

The resilient houses have been specifically engineered to include special features such as flood-proof floor that is 1.5m above the highest flood level to provide a safe refuge from rising floodwaters and strongly reinforced roofs that can withstand typhoon-strength winds.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen and Quang Nam’s authorities hand over houses to local residents . Photo: UNDP Vietnam

The project becomes more helpful after floods swept some Vietnamese central coastal provinces in last October. The floods have claimed more than 230 lives and destroyed at least 380,000 houses, leaving tens of thousands of residents homeless or severely suffered from damages.

They proved their effectiveness during the severe floods and storms of 2020, when they saved the lives and livelihoods of not only their owners, but in some cases other members of the community as well. Their success garnered attention from the media, and they have since been specifically highlighted by the government as a model for wider replication.

Speaking at the handover of new resilient and repaired houses to local low-income households held on April 29, Tran Van Tan, vice chairman of Quang Nam Provincial Peoples Committee, highly appreciate UNDP’s efforts and timely assistance in building and repairing damaged houses for the poor to help them recover from disasters.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen and local resident. Photo: UNDP Vietnam

Representing beneficiaries, Luu Thi Phuong living in Que Thuan commune, Que Son district, said “Without this support, I don’t know when my sons and I will be able to build such a resilient house.”

“It is an honor and privilege to hand over UNDP supported storm resilient houses to Phuong and other poor women-headed households in Quang Nam,” Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam said.

She noted that the resilient houses have saved thousands of lives during the historic floods and storms that battered the central region. However, there is still a long way to go to reach all those in need.

Nguyen Van Tien, deputy chief of the Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said “I highly appreciate UNDP’s coordination, which goes directly to the essential needs of the people in disaster-affected areas. These activities not only solve problems for immediate post-disaster recovery, but are also sustainable for the communities where disasters occur frequently, such as in central Vietnam.”

UNDP takes action to end plastic pollution in Southeast Asia

January 27, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The ASEAN-wide competition seeks ways to tackle plastic pollution in the region, where is having the largest contributors of marine plastic.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has devoted its efforts to a competition aiming to end plastic pollution across Southeast Asia.

UNDP Vietnam Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen. Photo: UNDP Vietnam

Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC), an ASEAN-wide competition seeking solutions to join global efforts against plastic pollution, has attracted the participation of a number of contestants in ASEAN member states.

Spearheaded by UNDP with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), EPPIC seeks ways to fight ocean plastic by supporting innovators whose ideas prevent plastic waste and pollution at the local level.

As stated by UNDP Vietnam Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen, plastic is destroying marine life and polluting the earth at an unprecedented rate, tackling plastic pollution will require multi-stakeholder collaboration and engagement.

Stig Ingemar Traavik, director for Norad’s Department for Climate, Energy and Environment, said different stakeholders need to come together, collaborate, and innovate to stop plastic pollution from reaching oceans, adding that efforts to reduce plastic pollution by contestants to create healthier environments and good jobs in a circular economy were very impressed.

UNDP Vietnam Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen and winners

EPPIC

EPPIC provides an exciting opportunity for innovators to receive seed funding and incubation training to help them maximize their chances of success.

On January 26, four winners were announced at a ceremony held in Hanoi. They were Galaxy Biotech, Green Joy, and Refill Day of Vietnam and CIRAC from Thailand.

“Today, the EPPIC winners have pitched outstanding, innovative ideas to tackle plastic pollution and we are keen to working with them and our partners from the Governments of Viet Nam and Thailand to implement the solutions in Ha Long Bay and Koh Samui,” said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.

Winners have been awarded US$18,000 each to apply solutions in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam) and Koh Samui (Thailand) and enroll for a 9-month acceleration journey delivered by UNDP Impact Aim, opening up opportunities to connect with investing firms and other key development players in ASEAN.

Launched in June 2020, EPPIC Phase I in Vietnam and Thailand recorded ideas to combat plastic waste in coastal cities of Ha Long Bay and Koh Samui in 2020.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site located in Quang Ninh province, is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions, receiving 14 million visitors in 2019.

The initiatives will help address solid waste, especially plastic pollution discharged by tourists and fish-farming that the locality is facing with in an effort to keep Ha Long Bay home to biodiversity and good environment.

A group of 14 finalists include AYA Cup, EcoTech, Galaxy Biotech, Green Joy, GreenPoints, MGreen, Refill Day, and VIFEP (Vietnam); CIRAC, Green Island Foundation, and TerraCycle Thai Foundation (Thailand); P+usTreat, and OceanKita BBN (Indonesia); and Seven Clean Seas (Singapore).

According to UNDP, 159 teams coming from six ASEAN countries namely Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia applied to the challenge with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution including both upstream and downstream innovations.

EPPIC Challenge will be extended to Indonesia and the Philippines and welcome all innovators from ASEAN to apply.

Vietnam’s human rights achievements undeniable

May 1, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Throughout history, Vietnam has always put its people at the centre of every socio-economic development strategy, programme, and project, thereby obtaining considerable and multifaceted achievements in ensuring human rights.

Targets, policies consistently focus on people

In the 1945 Declaration of Independence, then President Ho Chi Minh underscored the association of fundamental human rights with the rights of the people: “All peoples in the world are born equal, every people has the right to live, the right to be happy, and the right to be free.”

The 2013 Constitution featured a whole chapter on human rights and citizens’ rights and obligations, based on which a number of legal documents relevant to human rights have been adopted to create a legal framework for ensuring these rights in reality.

The country has also been enhancing international cooperation to protect and promote human rights. It has taken part in and included in its laws, provisions from almost all UN conventions on human rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Vietnam has been working tirelessly to create infrastructure that better ensures human rights. Meanwhile, every socio-economic development strategy, programme, and project has been centred on and oriented towards the people to serve the people.

People enjoy human rights in best possible manner

Vietnam’s human rights achievements undeniable hinh anh 1

Reporters work at an event (Photo: VNA)

In terms of civil and political rights, the draft Constitution and important laws have been released to collect public feedback, via which people have exercised their freedom and democratic rights.

The rights to freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and access to information of Vietnamese citizens and foreigners in the country are all regulated. The rapid increase in organisations, associations, and clubs proves that people’s right to freedom of association has been respected and ensured. Meanwhile, the State has created the conditions for religious organisations to open schools and dignitary training establishments, publish religious books, and engage in social activities.

Regarding economic, cultural, and social rights, the State of Vietnam has been successfully implementing a number of socio-economic programmes over the past years, thus increasingly ensuring rights for its people and affirming the spirit of “putting the people’s interests above all”.

Vietnam has also made great strides in poverty alleviation, human development, and improvements to living standards, as seen in the household poverty rate coming down to under 3 percent by the end of 2020 and the country’s internationally-recognised impressive outcomes in the realisation of the UN Millennium Development Goal on poverty reduction.

The scale of education has continued to be expanded at all levels and majors to meet growing demand. At the same time, in the cultural aspect, the “All people unite to build a civilised lifestyle” movement has been stepped up, and many heritages nationwide recognised as part of the cultural heritage of humanity.

More and more improvements have been recorded in healthcare, with breakthrough achievements in medical techniques, securing high evaluations from the international community.

Vietnam’s human rights achievements undeniable hinh anh 2

The border district of Nam Po in the northwestern province of Dien Bien has become a bright spot in poverty alleviation (Photo: VNA)

The repatriation of hundreds of thousands of overseas Vietnamese amid the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated Vietnam’s efforts to leave no one behind.

With regard to human rights for vulnerable groups, Vietnam was the first in the region and the second in the world to sign the 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has called on the entire society to join hands in protecting and caring for children and creating a safe and healthy environment for their physical and mental growth.

Gender equality is another important aspect of human rights. Over the past years, the rates of women enrolled in education at all levels have been on the rise. The country’s reform policies have created conditions for women to be increasingly involved in national socio-economic development activities. In the National Assembly’s 14th tenure (2016-2021), 26.71 percent of legislators were women, higher than the world average of 22.3 percent.

The Government has always worked to assist, care for, and create equal opportunities for the disabled to access education, employment, and healthcare.

Making contributions to common values, progress of humankind

Vietnam’s human rights achievements undeniable hinh anh 3

Female parliamentarians visit the Presidential Palace in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Apart from those achievements, Vietnam has made tireless efforts to contribute to the common values and progress of humanity in terms of human rights.

It has actively taken part in human rights forums at the UN, ASEAN, and other mechanisms, while proactively putting forth relevant initiatives, especially those related to ensuring the rights of women, children, the disabled, and those hit hard by climate change, which have been highly valued by the international community.

The country has also shown its seriousness in realising international commitments on human rights. Since 2008, it has actively participated in the Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council to review the protection and promotion of human rights in UN member states.

Caitlin Wiesen, Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, said the country has been persistently on a development path that focuses on the people and equality in socio-economic development strategies and plans, which has helped it secure a number of achievements in human rights./.VNA

Quảng Nam’s flood-hit residents receive new houses

May 4, 2021 by vietnamnews.vn

Lưu Thị Phương, in Quế Thuận Commune, Quảng Nam Province (left) and UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam Caitlin Wiesen stand inside the house she received last week. Photo courtesy of UNDP

QUẢNG NAM – The skinny woman trembled, seemingly unable to stand still because of her happiness to receive a house thanks to the work of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Việt Nam and local people’s generosity.

Lưu Thị Phương, 56, in Quế Thuận Commune, Quế Sơn District, Quảng Nam Province, saw her house destroyed by a storm in October 2020.

She was one of the thousands of people who lost nearly all of their assets due to the storms of 2020 in central Việt Nam.

Her husband died when she gave birth to her fourth child 16 years ago, so Phương alone raised her four small children.

“Life is so hard. I work alone in the field as a hired labourer to support these children,” she said.

Now, her two eldest daughters have their own families and work in a local factory. However, her two sons have health problems, so they still live at home and can only work as hired labourers around the commune.

In the new two-storey house, she reserved the most solemn area on the second floor as an altar for her husband. On the first floor, she presented a set of wooden tables and chairs bought from money saved by children.

“I give my thanks to the UNDP, the provincial People’s Committee and the Red Cross. Without this support, I don’t know when we would have been able to build such a house,” she said.

“I will pick up local neighbours to live at my house if there are floods and storms in this area,” she added.

The house with a ground area of 16sq.m and worth VNĐ110 million (US$5,000) was one of more than 430 storm-resistant houses provided by the UNDP in five provinces in central Việt Nam.

This assistance activity is part of the project ‘Responding to natural disasters in Việt Nam’ funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

At the end of April, the UNDP handed over 10 houses to people in Quảng Nam Province as part of the UNDP’s 2021 plan to build flood-resistant houses.

In addition to building more than 430 new houses, the UNDP in collaboration with the People’s Committees of central provinces that suffered heavy damage in the storms last October (Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Quảng Nam and Quảng Ngãi) and the Red Cross completed the repairs and reinforcement of more than 3,300 damaged houses.

Some 3,300 household kits have also been provided to poor households. Household items, including kitchen equipment, blankets, curtains, personal protective equipment, and chemical disinfectants were all necessary for people to get back on their feet.

UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam, Caitlin Wiesen, said that more than ever, affected people, especially the poor, women and girls were in need of safe houses and essential items to deal with the damage.

“Our safe homes have saved thousands of people during the historic floods and storms that devastated central Việt Nam,” she said.

“However, there is still a long way forward to be able to assist those in need of safe homes.”

Trần Văn Tân, Deputy Chairman of the Quảng Nam Provincial People’s Committee, said there were still many poor households, lonely mothers and disabled people suffering difficulties in life and some had lost their homes in last year’s floods.

“This makes the poor, who already struggle so much, in even greater difficulties without community support.”

Tân said the local authorities appreciated the UNDP’s efforts and timely support to build and repair the houses.

“It is very practical and meaningful support for local people. We hope to continue to receive this support so that people living in areas affected by storms and floods have a warmer life,” he said.

At a house handover ceremony at Quế Thuận Commune last week, Nguyễn Văn Tiến, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, said: “I appreciate the co-ordination of UNDP that help people in the disaster area.

“This assistance not only solves immediate post-disaster recovery but is also sustainable for local residents living in frequent disaster areas such as central Việt Nam.”

The UNDP is also organising a crowdfunding campaign titled ‘Safe House, Peace of Life’ to support the construction of 100 new safe houses in vulnerable locations in Quảng Bình Province and further construction of safe houses in Quế Sơn District, (Quảng Nam Province) and Lý Sơn island district (Quảng Ngãi Province).

“In particular, our safe homes in Lý Sơn Island will have a new design and enhanced resistance to special wind conditions, and rooftop solar systems are capable of providing sufficient lighting systems for households,” said Wiesen.

Central Việt Nam was battered by strong storms and floods last October. According to the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, more than 230 people were killed or went missing. At least 380,000 houses were flooded, damaged or collapsed. VNS

Quang Nam’s flood-hit residents receive new houses

May 6, 2021 by en.qdnd.vn

Luu Thi Phuong, 56, in Que Thuan Commune, Que Son District, Quang Nam Province, saw her house destroyed by a storm in October 2020.

She was one of the thousands of people who lost nearly all of their assets due to the storms of 2020 in Central Vietnam.

Her husband died when she gave birth to her fourth child 16 years ago, so Phuong alone raised her four small children.

“Life is so hard. I work alone in the field as a hired laborer to support these children,” she said.

“I give my thanks to the UNDP, the provincial People’s Committee and the Red Cross. Without this support, I don’t know when we would have been able to build such a house,” she said.

“I will pick up local neighbors to live at my house if there are floods and storms in this area,” she added.

The house with a ground area of 16sq.m and worth VND 110 million (USD 5,000) was one of more than 430 storm-resistant houses provided by the UNDP in five provinces in central Vietnam.

This assistance activity is part of the project ‘Responding to natural disasters in Vietnam’ funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

At the end of April, the UNDP handed over 10 houses to people in Quang Nam Province as part of the UNDP’s plan to build flood-resistant houses in 2021.

In addition to building more than 430 new houses, the UNDP in collaboration with the People’s Committees of central provinces that suffered heavy damage in the storms last October (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai) and the Red Cross completed the repairs and reinforcement of more than 3,300 damaged houses.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, Caitlin Wiesen, said that more than ever, affected people, especially the poor, women and girls were in need of safe houses and essential items to deal with the damage.

“Our safe homes have saved thousands of people during the historic floods and storms that devastated central Vietnam,” she said.

“However, there is still a long way forward to be able to assist those in need of safe homes.”

Tran Van Tan, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee, said there were still many poor households, lonely mothers and disabled people suffering difficulties in life and some had lost their homes in last year’s floods.

“This makes the poor, who already struggle so much, in even greater difficulties without community support.”

Tan said the local authorities appreciated the UNDP’s efforts and timely support to build and repair the houses.

At a house handover ceremony at Que Thuan Commune last week, Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, said, “I appreciate the co-ordination of UNDP that help people in the disaster area.

“This assistance not only solves immediate post-disaster recovery but is also sustainable for local residents living in frequent disaster areas such as central Vietnam.”

The UNDP is also organizing a crowd funding campaign titled ‘Safe House, Peace of Life’ to support the construction of 100 new safe houses in vulnerable locations in Quang Binh Province and further construction of safe houses in Que Son District, (Quang Nam Province) and Ly Son island district (Quang Ngai Province).

“In particular, our safe homes in Ly Son Island will have a new design and enhanced resistance to special wind conditions, and rooftop solar systems are capable of providing sufficient lighting systems for households,” said Wiesen.

Central Vietnam was battered by strong storms and floods last October. According to the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, more than 230 people were killed or went missing. At least 380,000 houses were flooded, damaged or collapsed.

Source: VNA