(VOVworld)- A conference to review search and rescue activities in 2013 and work out tasks for 2014 opened in Hanoi on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai attended the event. Participants to the conference agreed that this year, despite extreme weather and the complicated developments of natural disasters, search and rescue activities helped minimize human and property losses. The army mobilized more than 500,000 officials, soldiers and militias to help people cope with disasters. More than 800,000 ships were guided to shelter at safer places and there were numerous successful evacuations from the disaster hit areas. They consolidated more than 46,000 houses and repaired 24,000 houses helping people to stabilize their lives and production. The National Committee for Search and Rescue successfully conducted simulation on emergency response in ASEAN with the participation of 10 ASEAN members and 5 observers. In 2014, search and rescue activities will aim at reviewing and adding more response plans and improving response capacity.