New Zealand funds natural disaster management programme in Vinh Long

(VDP) - The Livelihood Improvement for Building Resilient Communities project (LIBRE), a US$500,000 initiative funded by the New Zealand Government, will be implemented in Vinh Long province until 2017 with a focus on developing sustainable local livelihoods and community-based disaster risk management.

At the launching of LIBRE in Vinh Long (Photo: baovinhlong.com.vn)

Around 30,000 local residents in four communes - Trung Thanh, Hieu Phung, Vinh Xuan, and Thich Thien - with high poverty rates and vulnerability to disasters have been targeted by the project, of which 2,000 people will benefit from improved livelihood models and credit support programmes.

Statistics show that seven of the eight districts in Vinh Long province suffer from flooding every year, causing difficulties in the lives of 350,000 local people. Sea water intrusion, erosion and plant diseases have adversely affected their traditional livelihoods, especially those in aquaculture and farming.

LIBRE focuses on improving knowledge and training on disaster risk management at the local level and providing training on economic market development and agricultural value chains. It also seeks to implement the ‘cow bank’ model, offer preferential loans and encourage effective livestock initiatives.

(Nhan Dan Online)