Pre-disaster meeting (PDM) has become a routine exercise of Viet Nam Red Cross for the past several years. The event brought both management and technical people together to review the achievements and lessons learned from the previous disaster season, and discuss, mobilise and prepare for what are to be projected in coming months.

The event is a great opportunity for strengthening partnership with both internal and external partners (VNDMA, NGOs, IOs and donors) and to prove with partners VNRC’s capacity, methodologies of doing things, response tools including policies to facilitate so call an effective response operation. It is more meaningful for VNRC Headquarters and disaster-prone chapters to have dialogues and better understanding between each other on what need to be done to ensure an effective disaster response.

The event was attended by almost 80 participants from VNRC HQs, disaster prone provinces, partner National Societies, ICRC, IFRC and external partners of UN Country Team, NGOs, INGOs, governmental agencies and private sector.

On this occasion, the IFRC CCST presented Viet Nam Red Cross the ASEAN Award for School Safety Initiative in recognition of Viet Nam RC’s great contribution toward building safer and more resilient communities in Viet Nam and a resilient ASEAN region.