On January 10^th, 2022, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) collaborated with the Project Steering Committee (PSB) and the People’s Committees (CPC) of Trung Son, Trung Hai, Gio Chau, Gio My, and Gio Hai in Gio Linh district in handing over a set of tools for the community support groups to better their responding performance in disaster season. The activity was carried out within the “Empowering people with disabilities” project funded by Caritas Australia and DFAT through SRD. There were 40 participants who are representatives of the district PSB and CPCs together with members of seven community support groups. Each set includes a wooden rescue boat, 10 raincoats, 10 life jackets, 10 helmets, 02 lifebuoy savers, and 15m of rope.

“The district PC highly appreciated the appropriate support from the project with a set of tools for the community groups to enable them to help the villagers in prone areas with evacuation during disaster season”. Shared by Mrs. Hoang Thi Lan, the deputy head of district PSB.

“The boats and other tools will help not only the villagers but also to ensure our safety and better our performance during the disaster season, particularly those in low-land residential areas where will be easily flooded”. Shared by a member of the support group in Vo Xa village, Trung Son commune.

The community support group is established to assist people in timely responding during the disaster season, of which priority is given to support and early evacuation of PwDs and other vulnerable people, contributing to mitigating the damage of life and property. Each group consists of 10 voluntary participants, including self-help people with disabilities (PwD) and their family members.