(Photo source: VNA)
The month-long campaign will run to May 31st as part of activities to mark the Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (May 8th) – Everywhere for everyone.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President of Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) Tran Thi Hong An urged the HCM City Red Cross Society to promote humanitarian values and the movement of good deeds, and provide effective humanitarian support for disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the community.
With about 4 million volunteers all over the country, the VRCS has been harvesting significant achievements for their cause, said Gianni Volpin, Head of Mission in Vietnam at the International Committee of the Red Cross. He mentioned the movement to send Tet gifts to the poor and Agent Orange victims as a highlight of the VRCS’s activities.
The movement was initiated in 1999, aiming to bring a warmer Tet, the Vietnamese traditional New Year, to poor people. It has been maintained and further expanded today.
Volpin also said that the VRCS is a leader in the country’s blood donation campaigns who has supported the establishment of blood banks and blood donation clubs. This effort has helped enhance the sense of responsibility among individuals and the entire society for blood donation, he noted.
At the event, a total of VND42 billion was raised while a charity texting campaign was also launched to raise funds to support livelihood, production development, free medical checkup and medicine for impoverished fishermen.
Each message of BD sent to 1407 will contribute VND20,000 (USD0.85) to the fund. The campaign will run until June 26th, 2018.
Last week, the Humanitarian Month was kicked off in Hanoi. During the opening ceremony, representatives of the U23 national football team donated VDN700 million (USD31,100) through the Vietnam Red Cross to help AO victims and children with fatal diseases in Vietnam.
The Hanoi Red Cross Society also donated money to help two poor families building houses, handed over cows to three others and presented bicycles to 20 poor students with outstanding study results in the capital city.
VNRC has mobilised VND557 billion (USD24.75 million) to support nearly 5.2 million poor families and Agent Orange victims over the past decade.