The chairman of the fund, Phan Dien, said on March 14 that it will support 14 coastal provinces, from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan to build 30 communal houses.

The fund will call for another pledge of support from businesses and non-governmental organisations to implement the VND20 billion-project to plant 200ha of mangrove forests to protect the existing dykes in Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province. Funding will also go to a 6-year plan to prevent erosion of sand through planting forests in Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province.

Last year, the fund received a total VND14.7 billion in sponsorship. It built and put into use 8 communal houses, local medical clinics and classrooms in provinces such as Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang City.

The fund also organised training classes for 200 provincial employees in coping with natural disasters, held charity programmes and sent presents to the victims of disasters.