At a press conference in Hanoi on January 27, Chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) Bui Ngoc Tang said that humanitarian activities have been implemented in various fields over the last year. 

During the Action Month for AO Victims from August 10 to September 10, 2009, Red Cross societies at all levels mobilised nearly VND50 billion VND, providing relief to more than 144,650 victims. In addition, the VRC also carried out activities to help storm victims with money and goods worth VND200 billion in total donated by domestic and foreign organisations and individuals. The association raised nearly VND147 billion in support of over 860,000 poor households during the previous Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. 

The VRC Central Committee has provided nearly VND2 billion for 41 provincial and city societies to visit and present gifts to poor people and AO victims during this year’s Tet festival.  It will also present breeding buffaloes and cows to people in several poor districts as part of the “Cow Bank” programme. 

In 2010, the programme will present 1,400 buffaloes and cows worth VND9.8 billion in total to 14 poor districts in 14 provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Son La Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh and Kon Tum.