More than 400 vulnerable households in Ca Mau receive safe houses

The inauguration and handover ceremony of the safe house was held in Khanh Lam commune, U Minh district, Ca Mau province on August 15. (Source: UNDP)

This is an activity under the project “Enhancing the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change-related impacts in Viet Nam”. Designed to withstand storms and natural disasters, these safe houses are the result of cooperation between the Green Climate Fund (GCF), UNDP, the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management under the Ministry of Construction , the People's Committee of Ca Mau province and localities.

The handover ceremony was held in Khanh Lam commune, U Minh district, with the participation of representatives of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, local authorities and beneficiary households.

Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee, highly appreciated the impact of the GCF Project on poor households in the province. (Source: UNDP)

Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau Province, said that people in coastal communes of the province still have to cope with storms, high tides and the harsh conditions of climate change every year. Support from the GCF Project has helped a large number of poor households in the province have safe housing.

With a coastline of 254km and 41 coastal and near-coastal communes and towns, Ca Mau still has many poor households who do not have houses or do not have enough conditions to support house construction. Therefore, Ca Mau hopes that central ministries, branches, and sponsors will continue to accompany the province to support poor households to stabilize their lives, stay safe from natural disasters, and escape poverty.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Representative in Vietnam, affirmed her commitment to supporting the construction and reconstruction of houses for households vulnerable to climate change. (Source: UNDP)

Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Representative in Viet Nam, emphasized the importance of these houses: "Housing is our most valuable asset, so building safe houses is the foundation for the resilience of households living in coastal areas of Viet Nam to climate change."

UNDP is committed to “supporting the construction and reconstruction of houses for households vulnerable to climate change, especially poor households, households headed by women and the elderly”.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Het, representative of the beneficiary household, emotionally shared that her family's circumstances were very difficult and she did not have the means to build a house. "With the support of the project and the province, the dream of having a house to settle down and make a living has come true, giving her peace of mind to work, develop her family's economy, and escape poverty."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Het, representative of the beneficiary household, shared her joy when receiving a safe house. (Source: UNDP)

Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Head of International Cooperation and Science and Technology Department, Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Deputy Director of the National Project, said that the GCF project “brings hope and peace of mind to more than 5,000 poor households through support for the construction of disaster-resistant houses. These houses are invaluable assets for poor households.

We are proposing to develop a new project to build on these good practices and continue to explore coordination mechanisms to mobilize international and other resources to scale up and support the construction of storm and flood-resistant housing for people and pilot implementation in coastal areas and the Mekong Delta.”

GCF project brings hope and peace of mind to more than 5,000 poor households by supporting the construction of disaster-resistant housing. (Source: UNDP)

This initiative plays a key role in Vietnam’s efforts to enhance the safety of coastal areas, ensuring communities can thrive even in the face of climate change.