In the first half of this year, the 5 centrally-governed cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong spent over VND377 billion in humanitarian activities through Red Cross work.

The figure was announced during a meeting held on June 30^th to review the work of the cities’ Red Cross chapters in the first half of the year.

Of the humanitarian activities, the program “Tet for poor people and Agent Orange victims” during the 2016 lunar New Year gave 320,419 presents worth over VND127 billion to poor families and AO victims.

Organizations and inpiduals gave regular assistance to nearly 51,500 disadvantaged people, amounting to over VND23 billion.

In addition, over 2.7 million portions of meals valued at nearly VND32 billion were provided for lonely elderly people, orphans, disabled people, homeless people and poor patients at hospital.

Unscheduled assistance was given to 133,370 AO victims, beneficiaries’ families, lonely elderly people, orphans, and poor pupils with excellent academic results, by providing them cows, savings books, scholarships, poverty reduction loans, employment and vocational training, with a capital of VND42.5 billion.

The Red Cross in the 5 cities spent VND4.7 billion building 131 houses and repairing 79 others; and allocated VND5.1 billion to build 49 bridges and repair 86 others.

In addition, through voluntary blood donation, the cities collected 214,940 units of blood over the past 6 months./.

( Compiled by VNF )