Party work and political work in natural disaster and epidemic prevention and control, and search and rescue are important activities in the leadership of the Party committees and organisations, and commanders at all levels in order to promote the Army's core role in responding to and overcoming incidents, natural disasters, catastrophes, epidemics, search and rescue, to fulfill its "combat tasks in peace time”. In face of complicated developments of natural disasters and epidemics, the improvement of the quality and effectiveness of Party work and political work for this task must be paid more attention, with specific and practical contents and measures.

As the core force in the prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) have always upheld the spirit of all for the people, remained ready to overcome difficulties, closely stuck to the real ground and followed the storms and floods to support people in need and rescue the distressed ones. Many cadres and soldiers, including senior cadres, have sacrificed themselves for people's safety. They have shown many noble gestures to support and help people in flooded areas overcome the consequences, stabilise their lives, and reduce the damage in life and property of the State and the People. As for 2020 alone, the Army has mobilised thousands of troops, militia and self-defence forces and vehicles to perform the task of natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue; closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to well implement the motto “4 on the spot”, organise the evacuation of people to safe places; actively search for missing people in areas with storms, floods, and environmental disasters, etc.

In the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic, the whole Army has thoroughly grasped and seriously adhered to the leadership and direction of the Party, State, Government, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defence; proactively and closely coordinated with central and local departments, ministries and branches; conducted a military exercise on prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic; maintained checkpoints to strictly control trails and openings on the land border and in the sea direction to prevent the diseases from entering the country. Officers and soldiers are willing to leave their barracks and accommodation for establishing medical concentrated centres; actively participated in environmental treatment in pandemic areas; timely produced kits for rapid testing of SARS-CoV-2 virus and researched and tested vaccines against the Covid-19 pandemic, etc. With the spirit of "fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy", officers and soldiers of the whole Army are always ready to perform their duties on the front lines, contributing together with other forces to realise dual goals of both effectively preventing and combating the pandemic, protecting people's health and safety, while recovering and maintaining socio-economic development; successfully completing military and defence tasks, worthy of being the Army of the people, by the people, for the people, further beautifying the quality and image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new period.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Do Can speaks at the review of party work and political work in the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Military (Photo: qdnd.vn)

In the coming time, it is forecasted that “Natural disasters, pandemic, climate change, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion will increase their severity with strong and unpredictable intensity, especially the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic …” adversely affecting the country's socio-economic development and military and defence tasks. This requires that the work of prevention, response and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue must be focused and enhanced; the synergy of both the political system and the whole society be promoted in order to minimise the damage and develop the country sustainably. In order for the Army to always promote its core role, fulfill the tasks of preventing and combating natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue, Party committees, political commissars, politicians, commanders and political agencies at all levels need to carry out synchronous solutions to further improve the quality and efficiency of party work and political work, focusing on the following measures:

Firstly, strengthening the leadership and direction of party committees, political commissars, junior political commissars, commanders and political agencies at all levels for the prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue. First of all, Party committees and commanders at all levels should continue to thoroughly grasp and implement the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State; leadership and direction documents of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff, the General Political Department and functional agencies of the Ministry of National Defence on natural disaster, epidemic prevention and control, search and rescue, focusing on: Directive No. 42-CT/TW, dated March 24, 2020 of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee (12^th tenure) on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in preventing, responding and remedying the consequences of disaster”; Law on natural disaster prevention and control; Decree No. 30/2017/ND-CP, dated March 21, 2017 of the Government stipulating the organisation and operation of incident and disaster response, search and rescue; Decree No. 02/2019/ND-CP, dated January 2, 2019 of the Government on civil defence; Decision No. 379/QD-TTg, dated March 17, 2021 of the Prime Minister on "Approving the National strategy for disaster prevention and control to 2030, with a vision to 2050"; telegram of the Secretariat, the Prime Minister's directive on Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control; Conclusion No. 1330-KL/QUTW, dated December 16, 2019 of the Central Military Commission on continuing to implement Resolution No. 689-NQ/QUTW, dated October 10, 2014 of the Central Military Commission on "Preventing combating, overcoming the consequences of disasters, search and rescue by 2020 and beyond"; orders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic; Instruction No. 2469/HD-CT, dated December 25, 2020 of the General Political Department on party work and political work in preventing, combating and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue in 2021, etc. At the same time, closely follow the situations of natural disasters, epidemics, requirements and tasks of agencies and units to develop thematic resolutions, determine policies and measures to lead and direct closely and correctly; associate with the implementation of the Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress, the Resolution of the 11^th Military Party Congress, military and defence tasks. Prepare plans for party and political work, especially in emergency situations of natural disasters, epidemics and non-traditional security challenges. Uphold the responsibilities of Party committees, cadres and party members, especially key and leading ones; strengthen inspection, supervision, encouragement, with the spirit of initiative, positivity, and high political determination.

Secondly, thoroughly conducting the work of political education, ideological leadership, task briefing, and propaganda in order to raise the awareness and responsibility of cadres and soldiers of the whole army and the militia on the task of preventing and combating natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue. The work of political education and ideological leadership must be carried out one step ahead, with appropriate contents, forms and measures, thereby making cadres, soldiers and the militia and self-defense forces aware that the prevention, response and remediation of the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, search and rescue is an important and urgent task of the entire country and is the "combat mission of the Army in peacetime". Thereby, they will strictly observe the regulations on prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue; clearly define their motivation, attitude, responsibility and determination in implementation; ensuring that in whatever situation, the Army will always be at the forefront, and the reliable force of the Party, State and People; always promote the glorious tradition of the nation and the good quality of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", the spirit of solidarity, mutual love and sharing of the nation, fighting for the people, serving the people, overcoming difficulties, hardships, sacrifices, excellent completion of assigned tasks.

Promoting the role and close coordination between the news agencies, the military press and the central and local newspapers and radio stations for the work of information, propaganda, forecast, warning and announcement on the evolution of natural disasters and epidemics; disseminating experiences and guiding situation-handling skills to officials, soldiers and people. Timely report results of remedial, search and rescue and epidemic prevention and control activities; the outstanding and typical collectives and individuals, "good people, good deeds", brave individuals in task performance. At the same time, it is necessary to criticise and strictly handle the expressions of negligence and irresponsibility for the difficulties of the country and the people; actively, proactively fight against false claims, distortion taking advantage of difficulties and damages caused by natural disasters, epidemics to entice and incite people to oppose the Party, the State, and the Army.

Thirdly, constantly improving the level and capacity of the forces participating in the prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue. Party committees and commanders at all levels regularly consolidate and supplement tasks and promote the role of the Commanding Committee for natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue, Steering Committee for pandemic prevention and control, and search and rescue agencies at all levels in accordance with the requirements and tasks and the restructuring of the Army in the neat, compact, strong and efficient direction. Improve capacity to research, forecast, monitor and grasp the situation of disasters and epidemics; review, supplement and complete plans and schemes; conduct training, retraining, and rehearsals to improve the level of command, coordination, maneuverability, mobilising forces and means, and coordinating in handling situations for local soldiers, militia and self-defense forces, regular units in key areas, and the Border Guard, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Engineers, Military Medicine, Chemistry, Information, etc. Have investment in means and equipment to meet requirements and tasks. Strictly maintain the order and regime and improve the operational efficiency of functional agencies in advising and proposing to Party committees and commanders at all levels to lead, direct and implement tasks.

Fourthly, closely coordinating with Party committees, local authorities and other forces to well implement the motto "4 on the spot" in preventing and fighting natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue. Step up propaganda to encourage people to strictly observe the guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State and regulations on prevention and control of natural disasters and epidemics; raise awareness, capacity and initiative in preventing, responding to and overcoming consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, and search and rescue according to the principle: “Be proactive in prevention; timely and effective in response; urgent remediation, sustainable restoration and better reconstruction”. Develop coordination regulations; command and administration mechanism between local Party committees, authorities and forces; mechanisms and policies to effectively mobilise and use all local resources; coordinate in building and holding exercises and rehearsals of situations and plans to promote the synergy of the whole political system in natural disaster prevention and control, epidemic prevention, search and rescue. Simultaneously, coordinate and promote synergy, effectively mobilise resources to build a powerful reserve force, strong and widespread militia and self-defence force to act as the on the spot force in the preventing and controlling natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue.

Finally, effectively combining the contents, forms and methods of conducting party work and political work. Basing on the specific situation, leaders and commanders at all levels shall determine the contents, forms and methods of conducting party work and political work to suit each situation and task; proactively conduct ideological work, closely combine ideological work with organisational and policy work. Step up the Determined to win emulation movement, and launch peak emulation campaigns in association with the implementation of Directive No. 05-CT/TW, dated May 15, 2016 of the Politburo (12^th tenure) on promoting the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, Directive No. 855-CT/QUTW, dated August 12, 2019 of the Central Military Commission's Standing Committee on the Campaign of Promoting tradition, dedicating talents , deserving "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new period. Pay attention to improving the material and spiritual life of officers and soldiers in general, and forces directly participating in the prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, and search and rescue in particular; take effective measures to ensure their safety. Continue to study and propose to the Party and State to promulgate and perfect regimes and policies, especially specific regimes and policies for military forces who directly participate long days, get wounded or die in the prevention and control of natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue, contributing to motivating and promoting their responsibility in task performance. Well perform the preliminary review and review of party work and political work in the work after each tasks; promptly praise and reward collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements; overcome limitations and shortcomings; determine to accept and successfully complete the task of preventing and fighting natural disasters, epidemics, search and rescue.

During the process of building, fighting, and maturing of our Army, Party work and political work have always been the "soul and lifeblood", ensuring that the Army is always politically strong, successfully accomplishing military and defence tasks in all situations. Today, facing the complicated developments of non-traditional security challenges, especially the complication of natural disasters and epidemics, it is necessary to constantly improve the quality and effectiveness of Party work and political work to meet requirements and tasks, shining the quality and image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new period.

Senior Lieutenant General DO CAN, Vice Chairman of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army