Deputy PM Inspects Flood-Hit Areas in Lai Chau, Directs Recovery and Resettlement Efforts

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung inspected disaster-hit areas in Muong Than commune, Lai Chau province, on July 21, to assess relief efforts and recovery progress following flash floods in the northern mountainous region. During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister received briefings from local authorities and relevant agencies on the disaster's developments, personnel and equipment mobilization, transportation conditions, the living situation of affected residents, and the advancement of recovery measures. He visited evacuated households, extending his sympathies and encouragement to those who suffered losses of life and property. Deputy Prime Minister Dung expressed his hope that these families would soon overcome their difficulties and restore their livelihoods. He also commended the armed forces, including the military, police, militia, and self-defense forces, along with local authorities, for their prompt response and dedicated efforts in search and rescue operations, evacuating residents to safety, and assisting with disaster recovery. Emphasizing that protecting people's lives and ensuring stable living conditions are the highest priorities, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed relevant agencies to urgently clear landslide sites, restore transport links, and reinstate electricity, water supply, and telecommunications services. He also called for a thorough review of areas at risk of landslides and the development of proactive relocation plans to prevent residents from returning to unsafe locations. The Deputy Prime Minister also inspected the proposed site for a centralized resettlement area for households whose homes were destroyed by the disaster in Muong Than Commune. He urged local authorities to expedite all necessary procedures in accordance with regulations to ensure the project progresses on schedule, while paying close attention to construction quality, essential infrastructure, and living conditions, enabling affected residents to rebuild their lives as soon as possible. On July 19, the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee issued an emergency construction order to establish a resettlement area for households urgently requiring relocation from disaster-prone areas in Muong Than Commune. The plan aims to provide housing for approximately 24 households whose homes were destroyed, on a total land area of about 10,000 square meters. The project includes the construction of Grade IV houses and essential technical infrastructure such as internal roads, water supply and drainage systems, and electricity, with the goal of helping affected residents quickly settle into new homes and resume their livelihoods./.