III. Making every effort to overcome “double challenges”

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the rapid rate and complex nature of climate change and the rise in abnormal natural disasters are doing increasingly serious damage to production, business, and people’s lives. Therefore, more comprehensive, drastic attention must be paid to disaster prevention and response in the coming time. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to witness complex developments. Many localities have both practised social distancing and concentrated their resources on pandemic prevention and response with the aim of quickly bringing new normality to the society. Consequently, natural disaster prevention and response will face more pressure and challenges, requiring a smooth, close command and control system with practical measures to minimise the impacts of natural disasters and pandemics.

Natural disaster prevention and response in the coming stormy season in the Military Region’s area of responsibility is likely to experience enormous difficulty in the context of the ongoing pandemic. The infrastructure, especially the inter-commune and inter-district roads, is still in poor conditions. The rescue forces, which are mostly non-professional and scattered, both conduct disaster prevention and response and participate in the pandemic prevention. Materials and equipment for rescue operations are mostly rudimentary, inadequate and fail to meet practical requirements in case of major disasters and incidents. To proactively respond to “double challenges” requires the involvement of the whole political system under the leadership of the Party, coordination of the Government, effort of party committees and authorities at all levels, and the people’s central role in prevention and response to natural disasters and pandemics with the military playing the core role.

As an army from the people, the 5^th Military Region Armed Forces always grasp their function as “an army for work” deeply and are ready to respond to natural disasters and epidemics in the spirit of “fighting for the people, serving the people.” The Military Region Party Committee Standing Board and the Military Region Command request their armed forces to promote the traditions of “self-reliance, resilience, overcoming difficulties, enduring hardships, ingenuity, fighting unyieldingly, and winning gloriously” of Ba To guerrilla unit in the old days in prevention and response to natural disasters and pandemics presently, beautifying images and fine dignity of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” forever.

Maintaining the readiness of a COVID-19 vaccine depot                           (photo: dangcongsan.vn)

First, further the effective implementation of the campaign: “Promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era in the Military Region armed forces. This campaign is a materialisation of the Directive No. 05-CT/TW of the Politburo on stepping up studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style in the military, thus requiring thorough comprehension and serious implementation in accordance with practical situations. Additionally, it is necessary to actively propagandise and popularise the special subject of “Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style about self-reliance, resilience, and aspiration for a prosperous, happy nation”; grasp and carry out the Conclusion No. 01/KL-TW, dated 18 May 2021, of the Politburo (13^th tenure) on further stepping up studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style as well as appeals and letters of encouragement sent by the General Secretary, State President, and Minister of National Defence to the entire people and military during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The special emulation movement: “The Military Region Armed Forces join hands with people nationwide in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic” must also be conducted effectively. There is a need to inherit and tap into patriotic tradition, spirit of struggle with great fortitude, benevolence, sentimental attachment, solidarity, diligence, and creativity of Vietnamese people as well as the revolutionary tradition of the 5^th Region’s soldiers and people, thereby consolidating a sense of self-reliance, resilience, creativity, responsibility, and whole-hearted support for the people at difficult time caused by “double challenges.” It is necessary to preserve and promote the fine dignity of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in prevention and response to natural disasters and pandemics, which serves as a key momentum for encouraging cadres, soldiers, and members of the militia and self-defence force to overcome difficulties and challenges and to be willing to undertake their tasks regardless of danger and risk to their own lives. Currently, given complex, unforeseeable developments of natural disasters and diseases, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, the Military Region Armed Forces leverage the dignity of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” and people’s soldiers, together with the whole Party, people, and political system, to early bring the pandemic under control, striving for stamping out this perilous pandemic.

Second, increased propaganda to raise people’s awareness of the danger of “double challenges” and instruct them how to adapt themselves to situations. The Military Region Armed Forces, through mass mobilisation, have successfully carried out propaganda to warn and improve people’s awareness of climate change, challenges posed by nontraditional security issues, particularly natural disasters and diseases; facilitate their understanding of difficulties and complexities when coping with natural disasters, environmental catastrophes, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic concurrently as well as their important role in the success of overcoming “double challenges.” People are advised to regularly keep a close eye on developments of natural disasters and diseases in the region; proactively prepare necessities in case of evacuation. They also propose that party committees and local authorities should propagandise and instruct people how to improve their response to incidents, natural disasters, and diseases; self-protection, mutual rescue, and mutual affection in communities. Accordingly, in case of evacuation due to natural disasters in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are requested to proactively practise 5K as advised by the Ministry of Health, install applications to update themselves on new information and check health conditions of the people they have had contact with. If people have any symptoms of fever, cough, loss of taste, and fatigue, they must inform the cadres in charge. In case of non-evacuation, people should be instructed how to strengthen their houses, proatively store up food and vital items, prevent and respond to natural disasters while preventing and responding the COVID-19 pandemic, and strictly practise social distancing, ensuring that every citizen is a soldier in the battle against the pandemic.

Third, successful implementation of the “four-on-site” motto to deal with situations. Successful implementation of the “four-on-site” motto to proactively tackle the “double challenges” is an optimal solution, thus requiring careful preparations according to practical plans in accordance with emerging situations of natural disasters and diseases. Accordingly, on-site command must be unified and serve as a centre for coordinating efforts of relevant branches and organisations to inspect the implementation of plans and timely address difficulties. In addition, it must direct the mobilisation of on-site resources and directly guide response to situations and measures to overcome the consequences. Regarding on-site forces, they are requested to proactively collaborate with other forces deployed in the area to provide emergency assistance, work with party committees, local authorities, and other forces to maintain social distancing, ensure people’s welfare, dispose bacteria and clean the environment, provide healthcare for the COVID-19 patients,  preserve social order and safety in quarantine areas; protect key areas and infrastructure, assist people in preventing, responding, and overcoming the aftermath of natural disasters, search and rescue. They must also grasp situations and response plans regularly, maintain the duty of guarding 24/7 at all levels, conduct training to enhance combat readiness, prevention and response to pandemics, search and rescue. On-site equipment and materials are made available and readily mobilised for responding to natural disasters and diseases. On-site logistics must include food and medicine for prevention and response to both natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic and be carefully stored up for mobilisation when needed.

Fourth, close, unified organisation and command as provided by regulations on performing duties. The Military Region Command requests its subordinate departments and units to deeply grasp the Directive No. 100/CT-BQP, dated 7 August 2021, of the Minister of National Defence on combat readiness, training, promoting order and discipline in prevention and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Departments and units must regularly keep a close eye on weather forecasts and developments of the COVID-19 pandemics in order to take initiative in reviewing, supplementing, and adjusting plans in accordance with realities, areas, and mission requirements; make all preparations and timely maneuver to deal with situations without being surprised. They must also strengthen groups of people on duty at headquarters at all levels and those performing duties of search and rescue and provision of military medical services; keep soldiers under close control; inspect stores, workshops, and facilities and adopt measures to ensure absolute safety. Units in charge of combat readiness brace themselves for missions; work closely with other units in the area to handle incidents, natural disasters, and diseases when needed. In the process of carrying out tasks, they are requested to adhere to principles, regulations, their assigned functions, and missions, especially those relating to duties of guarding, responding to situations, coordination, ensuring safety of lives and material facilities.

Fifth, summarising experience and praising prominent examples and good deeds in prevention and response to natural disasters, diseases, search and rescue. After assisting people in overcoming the aftermath of natural disasters and diseases, units are requested to timely draw experience and lessons on command, preparation of forces, equipment, logistics, and sense of responsibility for task execution. Assessment and selection of prominent units and individuals aim to praise, reward, and spread images and fine dignity of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in helping people to cope with difficulties while seriously reviewing and criticising units and individuals with shortcomings and weaknesses during task execution.

On bringing into play the fine dignity of the heroic Viet Nam People’s Army and the brave, unyielding, indomitable traditions of the 5^th Region land and people, cadres and soldiers of the Military Region Armed Forces always promote the spirits of self-reliance, resilience, proactiveness, and creativeness in order to effectively respond to “double challenges,” successfully complete their combat mission in peacetime, deserving to be praised and appreciated by local party committees, authorities, and people and the title of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” or people’s soldiers in the new age.

HONG LAM – THIEN TO – DUC THINH

(The end)