The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will support 27,000 Vietnamese ethnic minorities in four provinces of Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai in overcoming the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), state media reported. With a budget of VND10.7 billion ($461,206), the project will be conducted in four months by the World Vision in Vietnam in six mountainous districts namely Muong Cha, Tua Chua, Tram Tau, Nam Giang, Minh Long, and Son Tay. It is expected to assist 7,000 households, aiming to help the localities stabilize the household economy and strengthen its capacity in preventing infectious diseases, said Chief Representative of World Vision Vietnam Tran Thu Huyen. The project is designed to handle two main issues, comprising (i) providing food-aid packages and alternative livelihood solutions for locals, and (ii) building, repairing, or upgrading hand-washing facilities in schools and homes as well as support locals to access and storage of water source. According to the survey of the UK-based organization on 14 Vietnamese localities, 91% of surveyed households faced food shortages, 66% are severely affected by livelihoods, and 80% cannot afford to pay their debts due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19. (Thoi Dai, Thoi Dai)
