USD1 million provided to 10 central provinces affected by COVID-19

The Vietnam Red Cross on January 10 held a ceremony to implement the Emergency Relief Project for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

The project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development with a total cost of USD1 million, is implemented in 40 communes in 10 central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen, and Da Nang City. The project's activities will take place until April 2022 to provide emergency support to help local people overcome difficulties, stabilize their lives, and have conditions for disease prevention and control.

Each province and city selects 4 communes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and by floods in 2020 to implement the project. Poor, near-poor households and those with members having fatal diseases or COVID-19, and having no or few long-term and short-term support from other sources, are prioritized to benefit from this project. It is expected that over 12,000 households with an estimated amount of over 37,300 people will benefit from the project.

Mr. Tran Sy Pha, Head of the Disaster Management Board of the Vietnam Red Cross, said that the project is of great significance to people in the central region in the context of the outbreak of the disease and the appearance of a new variant; helping to timely solve and meet the essential food needs of the people through the granting of unconditional food vouchers. In addition, the project also implemented communication activities on sanitation and supply of clean water and sanitary products to raise people's awareness about clean water and contribute to preventing and slowing the spread of diseases.

Recently, the Vietnam Red Cross has conducted surveys in 43 districts of 10 central localities that are identified to be most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the storms and floods in 2020. The results show that, out of 509 households interviewed, 55% of households lost income from agriculture or fishing activities, 28% of households lost revenue related to small business, 26% of households lost their jobs, and 23% of households had their working hours reduced. As a result, 82% of households need cash or vouchers to meet their main needs, including food and non-food; and 49% of households need support to restore their livelihoods.