Vietnam PM Okays $51M for Disaster Relief in 10 Provinces

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a plan to spend VND115 billion ($50.7 million) on disaster relief in 10 provinces which have suffered damages caused by floods and storms so far this year. The money will help the flood-hit localities soon upgrade basic infrastructure, including road, embankment, irrigation systems, medical stations, and schools which were destroyed by bad weather. The recipients include Yen Bai province to have VND25 billion while Hoa Binh, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An will be given VND10 billion each. The money will be also used to resume husbandry, cultivation, and aquaculture in the localities. The newswire Vnexpress.net reported that the government has supplied nearly 7,000 tons of rice to provinces hit by floods and storms from the beginning of the year. According to the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO), storms and typhoons caused damage worth VND8.7 trillion ($390 million) to Vietnam in the first eight months this year. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam – Vietnam Economic Times Nov 30 p2, VTV Nov 29, Vov.vn Nov 28)