In the framework of the National Strategy for Natural disaster Prevention and Mitigation (PTGNTT) in 2020, Vietnam and the Philippines have signed a Joint Declaration and Framework Program on response to oil spills in the Gulf of Thailand as well as participation in the implementation plan on the oil spill response to help strengthen the capacity, resources management, disaster response at all levels, sectors and communities.

HANOI, Vietnam – With one of the longest continuous coastlines in the world, Vietnam is at risk of a wide-range of coastal hazards. From tropical cyclones to tsunamis, coastal communities require more disaster preparedness than ever as the country is experiencing adverse effects of climate change.

To achieve more resilient coastal communities, there is a need to build capacity at national and local levels on how to reduce disaster risks. ADPC is currently working to customize training curriculum to meet the needs of the most vulnerable to such hazards.

Period covered by this final report: 3 April 2012 to 31 January 2013.

Appeal target (current): CHF 758,416.

Appeal coverage: To date, the appeal is 82 per cent covered.

Appeal history:

• This emergency appeal was initially launched on 3 April 2012 for CHF 758,416 to assist 752,255 beneficiaries, including 196,200 direct beneficiaries, for a period of nine months.

This report covers the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012

04/28/2013 17:00 GMT

PARIS, April 28, 2013 (AFP) - Gene analysis of malaria parasites has pinpointed western Cambodia as the hotspot of strains that are dangerously resistant to artesiminin, the frontline drug against the disease, scientists said on Sunday.

An international consortium of researchers unravelled the genetic code of 825 samples of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite from Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Thailand, Vietnam and from northeastern and western Cambodia.

GENÈVE / PHNOM PENH (Cambodge) ¦ 24 avril 2013 - À l'occasion de la Journée mondiale du paludisme, le 25 avril, l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) a reconnu que des progrès importants ont été accomplis pour prévenir et combattre le paludisme, y compris dans les pays fortement touchés d'Afrique subsaharienne, soulignant néanmoins la menace que fait peser la résistance aux antipaludiques dans le Bassin du Mékong, en Asie du Sud-Est, où une action d'urgence est aujourd'hui engagée.

Fact Sheet

BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR

April 19, 2013

04/17/2013 05:23 GMT

HANOI, April 17, 2013 (AFP) - Two children were killed and six others seriously injured after a grenade left over from the Vietnam War exploded while they were playing with it, police said Wednesday.

The children, all 11-year-old classmates, were walking home from school in southern Dak Nong province on Tuesday when they discovered the shell, believed to be from a US-made M79 grenade launcher, a police officer told AFP.

MANILA — Military officials from 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region met in Manila Monday to try to improve cooperation when maritime disasters strike in international waters. Participants included representatives from China and several countries that all have competing claims in nearby disputed waters.

Philippine military officials say this is the first time this many countries have come together for such “tabletop” maritime disaster response exercises.