Nearly 100 participants from 6 LMI countries and U.S. in a group photo during the opening ceremony of the LMI DREE 2017 at Imperial Hotel in Hue city, Vietnam. Photo: Corey Ray/ USARPAC
Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong emphasized the significance of continuous international and regional initiatives and efforts in assisting Vietnam and LMI countries in responding effectively to the disasters which happen more and more frequently in the context of climate change.
Vice Chairman of Thua Thien Hue PPC Nguyen Van Phuong presents the gift to the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy during the opening ceremony of the LMI DREE 2017. Photo: Corey Ray/USARPAC
The four-day LMI DREE is an annual U.S. Pacific Command sponsored, multi-national exercise intended to enhance integrated sub-regional cooperation between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S. in the areas of connectivity, education, energy security, environment, water, food security, agriculture and health. This year, the focus is on flood response in the Lower Mekong region.
The event occursin the tragic legacy of devastating Typhoon Damrey (Typhoon No.12) which claimed 123 lives and deactivated thousands of houses and significant infrastructure in the central, south central and central highlands of Vietnam. The total estimate damageclimbs up to more thanVND 850 billion.
Participants visiting the management unit of the Thao Long Saline Intrusion Dam. Photo: Corey Ray/USARPAC
Besides listening to important presentations from representatives of civil and military disaster responders /managers from LMI countries and the U.S., more than 100 international participants grouped to discuss important issues on mutual mechanisms of communication, information sharing, and interoperability in disaster response.
Also, a visit to Thao Long Saline Intrusion Dam on the mouth of the Perfume River in the vicinity of Hue city was arrangedyesterday for the attendants with the coordination of the Sub-Directorate of Water Resources Management of Thua Thien Hue.
The Vinh