Thua Thien-Hue: Formosa compensation paid to fishermen
As of October 27, VND40 billion (US$1.79 million) compensated by Taiwanese Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation was distributed to fishermen in Phu Loc, Phu Vang and Quang Dien districts, central Thua Thien-Hue province in the first phase.
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The sum went to the fishermen in 11 of the 28 communes and towns in these districts as they have been greatly affected by the marine environmental incident sparked by Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh.
According to Chief of the Thua Thien Hue People’s Committee Office Hoang Ngoc Khanh, the districts have set up seven teams in charge of delivering the compensation to local people.
Phu Loc district received the highest amount of compensation with VND201.6 billion (US$9.025 million) in total, while Phu Vang district got over VND137 billion (US$6.133 million).
Operations of Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co. Ltd resulted in mass fish deaths along the coast of the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue in April. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earned their living in sea-related activities.
The firm compensated over VND11.5 trillion (US$500 million) to support local fishermen switch to other jobs and recover the polluted maritime environment. It also vowed to deal with shortcomings in waste and wastewater treatment.
Total compensation for those affected by the incident in Thua Thien-Hue is nearly VND750 billion (US$33.6 million), VND400 billion of which has been disbursed.
