Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to establish the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, of which the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the permanent organ.

The Central Steering Committee will be headed by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).

The Deputy Minister of ARD will be the committee’s Permanent Vice Chairman, meanwhile the Vice Chairman of the Government Office and the Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Search and Rescue will take positions as its second and third Vice Chairman.

The committee will be responsible for supporting the Government and PM in organising and directing the work of natural disaster prevention and control as well as recovery work for consequences of natural disasters.

The Committee will also guide and supervise ministries, branches and localities to build and implement national plans, policies and laws on natural disaster prevention as well as projects to control and mitigate damages from natural disasters.

Additionally, the committee will direct and decide urgent measures and mobilise all resources from ministries, ministerial-level and governmental agencies, organisations and individuals to deal with consequences from natural disasters.