(VNF) - The programme “Tet for the poor and Agent Orange victims” was recently held by the Vietnam Red Cross, aiming to mobilize at least two million packages of Tet gifts for poor families, beneficiaries and Agent Orange (AO) victims.

The information was announced in an art performance themed “Humanitarian strength” held on January 7th in Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening address, State President Tran Dai Quang spoke highly of the achievements made by the Vietnam Red Cross, stressing that practicing humanitarian policies was among the significant efforts of the Party and State.

According to the President, the organization has been playing an important part in providing better material and spiritual lives for the poor, those in natural disaster-affected areas, victims of war and of AO, the disabled, lonely elderly, orphans and vulnerable groups. He also took the occasion to urge the organization to enhance its operation to extend their help to more needy people, especially those in remote area, border areas, island and ethnic minority-inhabited zone.

In addition, he asked for greater impacts of education on humanitarian work to mobilize more donation for the disadvantaged, contributing to implement the Party and State's social welfare policy and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Besides the movement, this year, the Vietnam Red Cross has worked with the national humanitarian portal to launch a charitable SMS program to support the poor. Accordingly, simply by texting TET and send to the number 1409 (from December 27th, 2017 to February 24th, 2018), each message donates VND20,000 to help the poor.

Launched for the first time in 1999, the movement has brought practical benefits to the needy people's lives. In over the past five years, nearly 10 million packages of Tet gifts worth over VND3.464 trillion have been mobilized, benefiting poor families, beneficiaries and vulnerable people./.

( VNF )