Addressing the hand-over ceremony, the Norwegian Embassy to Vietnam’s First Secretary Thea Ottman said the Government and the Red Cross of Norway wished to join efforts to help lessen losses in human and property for Vietnamese people, who live in a region prone to natural calamities. 

Highlighting the operations of the Vietnam Red Cross over recent times, the Norway Red Cross’s Coordinator for Asia, Gideon Tesfai said this was also an occasion for the two countries’ Red Cross organisations to boost their cooperation. 

According to Deputy President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Red Cross Doan Van Thai, the relief aid will be used to buy foods and essential goods and build houses for flood-hit families. 
The Vietnam Red Cross also said the MasterCard Worldwide company has announced a sum of US$50,000 in aid for the victims of storm Ketsana. 
The aid is part of a US$200,000 package the company gives to India, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam to overcome natural disasters. 

Storm Ketsana, the ninth of its kind in the year that hit Vietnam, in late September claimed 163 lives and caused heavy losses to the country’s central and Central Highlands localities. 

Apart from the Government and fellow-citizens’ support, the localities also received aid from foreign governments, organisations and individuals, which has amounted to US$2.7 million.