Fully aware of the potential risks as well as disastrous consequences caused by natural disasters and the importance of the prevention and control, search and rescue, armed forces of the Military Region 4 have always grasped directives and orders of the Government, Ministry of National Defence on the issue and implemented the task  with a number of drastic, suitable and effective measures. The region’s first priority is put on leading, directing and advising work. Its Party Committee has issued a specialized resolution on leading the prevention and control of disaster, search and rescue and regarded this as one of the important political missions, “a combat mission in peacetime” of the Region’s armed forces. Its High Command has issued a number of directives, instructions and build plans for the implementation with concrete guidelines and solutions annually to direct and assign tasks for its junior units and localities. Particularly, the Region’s armed forces have proposed a various measures to enhance the operational effectiveness of the leading, directing and operating mechanism  of party committees and authorities at all levels; effectiveness of the collaboration between local branches and sectors and armed forces in sharing information, dealing with situation, and relieving the consequences of disasters, search and rescue, etc. In order to accomplish the “combat mission in peacetime”, the Region established and maintains the regular operation of the Directing boards for disaster prevention and control, search and rescue from Military Region level to regiments and district military offices. It has also directed its units to pay attention to building semi-specialized forces, on-the-spot forces, especially building and upholding the roles of the reserve, militia and self defence forces; be ready to respond to calamities and disasters happen in their localities. Besides, it has also built and invested for an engineer battalion included with the mission of search and rescue to make it a core force for the mission. Units and local military offices at all levels have actively built their plans for preventing and controlling calamities, fires and explosions, search and rescue, plans for maintenance and preparation in accordance with the “ four-on-the-spot” guideline. Moreover, it has also strictly maintained alert, particularly in the high season of storms and built plans for collaboration with local branches and sector,  and other forces (Public Security, Ranger, Coast Guard, Border Guard) in the area. Facing the complication and unpredictability of the calamities and incident, the Military Region has directed its units to pay attention to strengthening collaboration in grasping, forecasting the situation; thoroughly training, practicing, exercising the mission of preventing and controlling floods, storms, forest fires in order to enhance the directing and collaborating capability of levels and morale and steadfastness of cadres and troops.

Nghe An province practices search and rescue exercise (Photo: baognhean.vn)

With political responsibility, strong determination and the spirit “for the People to service”, armed forces of the Military Region 4 have performed well their roles of being the pioneer, core and reliable force of authority and people in the area in preventing, controlling and relieving the consequences of calamities, disasters and search and rescue. Since  2004, the Region has deployed 65,000 cadres and troops, 152,000 militias and self defenders, over 2,900 vehicles, nearly 400 ships and boats, hundreds of tons of food, medicine for helping people to respond and relieving the consequences of calamities, quickly recover production and stabilize their lives.

Calamities and incidents in the Region continue to be complicated and unpredictable in the coming time. To further uphold the pioneering and core role of the Region’s armed forces in the mission, Party Committee and High Command of the Region have directed its organs, units and localities to strengthen their leadership, direction of party committees and commanders at all levels over this important mission. The Region require its organs, units, particularly provincial military commands to continue their close collaboration with sectors and branches and advise local party committees and authorities about making plans, building and perfecting mechanism, policies and making plan of areas with high risk of calamity. Moreover, the Region has also actively mobilized different resources for investing, upgrading, buying and modernizing equipment and facilities for the mission, thereby enhancing the mobility and ability of units. Units and organs have continued to supplement and perfect their plans for action and collaboration with high feasibility; maintained high alert, anticipation and notification regularly, etc. Continue to increase training and exercise at all levels; focus on extensive training for specialized force; advise and collaborate with localities to hold exercise on calamity prevention and control, search and rescue with more complicated and devastating incidents, such as super storms, earthquakes, etc.

At the moment, the Region is focusing on preparing for the exercise “Responding to super storm and search and rescue in the province of Ha Tinh in 2016". Besides, the Region also actively prepare and attach importance to ensuring support for the work, particularly in communications, logistics and technique fields; direct its units to combine the mission with mass mobilization work; carry out emulation and rewarding to timely discover, stimulate, encourage and multiply role models and outstanding individuals in this mission, etc.

Upholding the virtues and tradition of “Uncle Ho soldiers”, experience and the achievements, armed forces of the Military Region 4 will continue to grasp their assigned tasks; serve as the core force, together with local party committees, authorities, people and other forces in the area, in carrying out the mission of preventing, controlling and relieving the consequences of calamities, disasters, search and rescue, making contribution to building the Region increasingly developed and strong.

Major General Dang Trong Quan

Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of the Military Region 4