THE PRESIDENT

Order No. 07/2013/L-CTN of June 28, 2013, on the promulgation of law

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALISTREPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Pursuant to Articles 103 and 106 of the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 51/2001/QH10 of December 25, 2001, of the X^th National Assembly, the 10^th session;

Pursuant to Article 91 of the Law on Organization of the National Assembly;

Pursuant to Article 57 of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents,

PROMULGATES

the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control,

which was passed on June 19, 2013, by the XIII^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 5^th session.

President of the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam
TRUONG TAN SANG

Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control

(No. 33/2013/QH13)

Pursuant to the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 51/2001/QH10;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law provides natural disaster prevention and control activities; rights and obligations of agencies, organizations, households and individuals engaged in natural disaster prevention and control activities; and the state management of, and assurance of resources for, natural disaster prevention and control.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Law applies to Vietnamese agencies, organizations, households and individuals; foreign organizations and individuals and international organizations that are residing or operating or engaged in natural disaster prevention and control in Vietnam.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Natural disasters means abnormal natural phenomena which may cause damage to human life, property, the environment, living conditions and socio-economic activities. Natural disasters include typhoon, tropical low pressure, whirlwind, lightning, heavy rain, flood, flashflood, inundation, landslide and land subsidence due to floods or water currents, water rise, seawater intrusion, extreme hot weather, drought, damaging cold, hail, hoarfrost, earthquake, tsunami and other types of natural disaster.

2. Natural disaster risk means damage which natural disasters may cause to human life, property, the environment, living conditions and socio-economic activities.

3. Natural disaster prevention and control means a systematic process involving the prevention of, response to, and remediation of consequences of, natural disasters.

4. Vulnerable group means a group of people who, due to their characteristics and circumstances, are likely to suffer more adverse impacts of natural disasters than other groups in the community. Vulnerable groups include children, elderly people, pregnant women, women nursing under-12-month children, people with disabilities, people suffering from dangerous diseases and poor people.

5. Natural disaster prevention and control works means works which are built with investment funds of the State, organizations or individuals, including meteorological, hydrographical, oceanographic and seismic observatories, disaster warning stations; dikes, reservoirs and dams, anti-inundation, anti-drought and anti-landslide facilities; storm shelters for ships and boats, evacuation houses and other facilities serving natural disaster prevention and control.