Four on-the-spot motto in disaster management: key contents and actual application

This booklet provides some guidelines in 'natural' disaster management in order to achieve the highest possible level of effectiveness in preparedness, response and rehabilitation from disasters such as storms, floods, landslides, storm surges, salinity, drought and forest fires, using the available resources on the spot, which intends to contribute to the reduction of loss of life and damage to public and private property. Its overall aim is to foster the capacity of local communities and government (on the spot) to solve local problems.

It looks at general guidance from the Vietnamese Government for local authorities in disaster response to ensure: (i) that each household or locality prepare all essential items to prevent or respond to natural disasters, which may occur at the locality at any time; (ii) that the prepared items meet the emergence relief demands of the household or its locality; and (iii) that they are ready to provide support to other households or other localities before external forces are asked to provide support. It then analyses the challenges and constraints faced, as well as the lessons learnt and recommendations from the application of the four on-the-spot motto at the local level.

The booklet has been produced by the Joint Advocacy Network Initiative (JANI), a project funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department and coordinated by CARE International in Vietnam.