Vietnam Red Cross provides support for 74,000 disaster-hit households

According to VRCS Vice President Tran Thi Hong An, in late 2015, strong El Nino hit Vietnam and caused serious drought along with saltwater intrusion over a large area, resulting in heavy losses in production and affecting the life of millions of people.

The drought, the worse in a century in Vietnam, mostly influenced the southern central, Central Highlands, southeastern and Mekong Delta regions.

In March this year, the VRCS and the National Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control jointly launched a five-month campaign to assist the affected. The campaign raised VND93.6 billion (US$4.19 million), which was used for nine aid projects in affected regions. Residents in the disaster-hit regions were provided with cash, water tanks, water filtering equipment, and antiseptic soap.

The VRCS also used its emergency fund to provide VND5.31 billion (US$238,414) to people in 14 hardest-hit localities, helping supply clean water to nearly 18,000 households during the hardest time.

On the occasion, the National Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control honoured five international organisations in recognition of their support, while the VRCS presented certificates of merit to 25 collectives and individuals, and Golden Heart certificates to 19 units.