Home away from home A safe and inclusive community evacuation house

Located upstream of the Kien Giang river – the biggest river in Le Thuy district. Thai Xa village of Mai Thuy commune floods usually three to four times each year. This community house is the safest place in the area for people to evacuate. There are up to 100 people calling this community house their temporary home during typhoon seasons every year. Most of them are older people, women and children.

“Our village is at greater risk of flooding on days when the rain is heavy due to a fast and strong flow of water. People don’t always have enough time to move to higher places to ensure their safety, especially old people and children. The evacuation house was essential for the people in the community to save their lives,” shared Mr Su, former head of the village. 

The community house was built in 2010 and it was not an easy task. A lot of planning was done to carry out the construction with consultation from experts from the Community Fund for Disaster Prepareness, which funded the construction. It was necessary to dig two meters deep for the foundations of the two-storey building. Since Thai Xa village was the site of a former hospital, it was heavily bombed during the war and the land had to be cleared before construction could begin.
Mr Su recalled the time MAG cleared the land for construction. “A huge excavator was used to dig out the land at that time. The process started by clearing the surface. Once the surface was safe, the excavators dug 50 centimetres deep and repeated the process until two metres of it were bomb-free.”

With funding from the U.S. Government, MAG cleared 9,300 square metres of land in total for the community house area, including the building, yard and the soccer pitch in front of the house. Three unexploded bombs were found and safely destroyed during the 40-day process.

“I remember there was a bomb found near the construction site for the house and red pickets were placed here to mark it. I’m so glad MAG discovered and destroyed it before anyone else. It’s a reminder that clearance is very important for any construction in these contaminated areas,” said Mr Long, a local man involved in the construction.

Mr Long points to the spot where the bomb was found

The community house has endured so many natural disasters over the last thirteen years and the community house has provided safe shelter to around 100 residents during high-level floods. During the peak of flooding in 2020, this house accommodated more than 200 people for four days. Food, water and safety were provided to all in need at the house. The building was a beacon of hope and resilience despite the devastation around it. It is a source of pride for everyone in the area. 

Mrs Ha lives near the community house and shelters in it every year with her two children during flooding. “It’s safer to stay here than uphill in households where we have to travel by boat for a kilometer.” She noted that the community house is always well-prepared for the annual floods. There are basic essentials and medical supplies available in the house to last the season.

“There are enough basic essentials to feed around 100 people during floods,” Mrs Ha shared

“The children enjoy staying here during the flooding since they can play with their friends. For adults, it’s been a challenging time but it has brought us closer as we support each other,” she said.

The second floor of the community evacuation house where people live during floods

The community house has been a home away from home for many villagers like Mrs Ha in times of inundation. It has been a great help to them during emergencies. The house also serves as the community hub for the local community, providing them with a space for community gatherings, social events, and educational activities.

“It’s often filled with children playing sports during the dry season. As this playground was cleared of bombs, we felt reassured to let our children play there,” shared Mr Long.

MAG’s support has been instrumental in providing a safe and secure space for the community. “Without the support from MAG and the Community Fund for Central Disaster Prevention, we would not have been able to build this strong evacuation house,” Mr Su said. “This is our home and now it is our responsibility to take care of it.”

Mr Long stands on the soccer pitch where the local kids play sports during dry seasons

The area surrounding the community house in Thai Xa village was cleared of unexploded bombs

MAG, with funding from the U.S. Government, also cleared other areas in Mai Thuy commune for community development.

This road in Mai Thuy commune is commonly called ”MAG road” since MAG cleared this area of bombs before construction, 5,250 square meters of land was cleared by MAG in 2010 and nine unexploded bombs were found and destroyed.

Other community houses built on land cleared by MAG in Mai Thuy commune, 420 square metres of land was cleared by MAG in 2006 and two unexploded bombs were found and destroyed.

Other community houses built on land cleared by MAG in Mai Thuy commune, 783 square meters of land was cleared by MAG in 2010 ahead of this construction.

Thanks to the generous and long-term support from the U.S. Government, MAG has been able to support the people living in Mai Thuy commune to develop their community and build safe and secure spaces for the community for social activities as well as disaster prepareness. Humanitarian mine action work in this community has helped them to be more resilient to climate change ensure that communities can stay safe, not only from the threat of unexploded bombs but from the challenges posed by flooding and other natural disasters.

From: MAG VIET NAM