Natural Disasters, Bird Flu Cost Vietnam US$127Mln in 2004

Natural Disasters, Bird Flu Cost Vietnam  US$127Mln in 2004

Natural disasters and bird flu cost Vietnam around VND2 trillion ( US$127 million) last year, according to the chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control on February 1.

Le Huy Ngo, former Agriculture Minister and Acting Committee Chairman, said the loss was equal to the growth rate of the agricultural sector over the whole year, which was put at 3.5 per cent.

To strengthen prevention measures for floods and storms this year, Ngo said, the country would build 37 reservoirs and dams in the central region and improve the quality of dikes along the Red River Delta and the coast. Enforcements will also be added to mangrove forests and sand dunes.

Ngo said a public education campaign would aim to raise warns or awareness on potential natural disasters, such as flash floods, earthquakes and tsunamis.

• (VNS Feb 3 p3)