On Thursday, the Da Nang Steering Committee for Response to Climate Change organised a seminar in the city to share experiences of building storm resilient houses for local poor families. 

Addressing the event, the municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman, Mr Phung Tan Viet, said “Da Nang is a central coastal city and it often suffers serious consequences from natural disasters such as storms and floods.  Therefore, ensuring safe accommodation for residents during disasters is always a big challenge for the local authorities”.

A storm resistant house in Man Thai Ward

He added, “Over recent years, many foreign individuals and organisations have joined efforts with the city to build new storm resistant houses for local poor families or reinforce their existing weak ones.  In particular, since September 2011, the Rockefeller Foundation-funded 'Storm Resistant Housing for a Resilient Da Nang' project has been implemented effectively by the city’s Women’s Union under the technical guidance of ISET-International.  As of late 2013, the project has helped to build new storm resistant houses or repair downgraded ones for over 420 poor families”.

Mr Viet spoke highly of the great efforts made by ISET-International over past years in giving assistance for the implementation of the project.  He also stressed the need for the Women’s Union to continue implementing the project effectively in order to ensure its on-schedule progress.