Addressing a meeting held in Hanoi on October 10 to mark the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, the UN coordinator said Vietnam has reduced the number of deaths and casualties occurring as a result of natural disasters preparedness since 1999. However, he said: "A lot of work still needs to be done".

Over the past 15 years, the UN has closely worked with Vietnam in natural disaster mitigation and control. This cooperation has begun to bear fruits, helping to improve the country's policy making and legal framework building for better natural disaster control, said Mr Hendra.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently teaming up with Vietnamese ministries and agencies in mapping out national programmes that incorporate risk mitigation and natural disaster control.

Lying in a tropical monsoon area, as well as in the typhoon centre of Asia-Pacific - one of the world's five storm centres, Vietnam has to face various kinds of natural disasters. The country is among ten countries worldwide to suffer the highest frequency of natural disasters, including storms, floods, flash floods, landslides and drought.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said natural disasters have left close to 750 dead and missing each year over the past decade. Losses were estimated at nearly 1.5 percent of GDP.