The first TV channel in Vietnam to combat natural calamities (VTC14) will make its debut as of January 1, 2010 to raise Vietnamese awareness of climate change.

This special channel is designed by VTC and will on air 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the country. The channel will have nearly 30 programmes, with 12 weather bulletins a day, providing sufficient and easy-to-understanding weather information to nationwide people.

According to the General Statistic Office, floods and storms killed around 500 people annually in 2006-2007. Millions of people were affected by natural calamities, with total losses worth more than $1 billion (equivalent to 1.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2006).

The impacts of climate changes will be sever, especially in Vietnam. International experts warn that Vietnam is in a group of five countries that will be hit most seriously by climate change.

VTC14 channel has been broadcasting experimentally since December 1 2009.

PV