The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) on October 17 launched a month for the poor and raised fund for flood victims in the central region. The event drew the attendance of VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan and Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue. It responded to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17) and the Day for Vietnamese Poor. VFF President Nhan reported that the campaign for the poor has been conducted for 16 years and contributed to promoting the compassionate and united tradition of Vietnamese people. In the first nine months of 2016, the Fund for the Poor provided over VND945 billion and supported over VND2,671 billion for local social welfare. Over 34,000 houses were built or amended for the poor. Up to 149,000 poor households accessed preferential loans and 1,173 social projects were built. In addition, 2.3 million gifts worth over VND739 billion were given to the poor and those in poor and extremely poor areas on the occasion of the Lunar New Year Festival. According to the VFF President, the number of poor households remained high with 2.3 million, accounting for 9.88% of total population. Viet Nam also has over 1.2 million nearly-poor families, making up 5.22%. The President took the occasion to call on organizations, businesses, and people to provide practical and spiritual support for poor people to escape from poverty. Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue stressed that poverty rate dropped dramatically from 58% in 1993 to only 4.45% in 2015. However, there are 41 poor districts of which 50% even 70% of residents suffered from poverty in accordance with the new poverty lines. On this occasion, over VND17 billion was raised for poor people. (vietnamplus.vn Oct 17)
