Zalo mini app released to support disaster response

The app is expected to helpe people cope with natural disasters more effectively.

The programme also provides people with knowledge of natural disasters and the necessary skills to prepare for and cope with them.

The app is a joint effort of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and UNICEF to enhance disaster prevention by equipping people with an additional emergency assistance tool amid an increasingly complicated disaster situation.

One of the key features of the app is “Relief Connectivity”, which enables disaster-hit people to submit their contact information, locations and pictures so that the authorities can provide timely relief in emergencies.

A list of phone numbers and hotlines is also provided in the “Emergency Contact” feature for people to contact local disaster management agencies immediately.

The app’s “Disaster Report” feature allows users to report to the authorities the risks or the current status of natural disasters in their residential areas so that those in charge can quickly deal with the consequences.

The programme also features an easy-to-understand section where users can learn about different kinds of natural disasters and what to do before, during and after disasters strike.

The knowledge section is also available in several languages of ethnic minority groups such as Dao, Mong, Thai and Khmer, making the mini app accessible to people all over the country.

The Zalo mini app is expected to be a new practical tool for Vietnamese people to quickly receive natural hazard warnings and assistance from local authorities, thereby reducing the damage of natural disasters.