The Central Highlands provinces still have 23,500 migrant ethnic-minority households who have not settled in zoned areas, according to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands region.

Some of these families live in tents in deep forests under poor living and transport conditions. Deforestation and social problems have occurred in these areas and the rate of impoverished households is as high as 75-80 percent.

Since 2005, Central Highlands provinces have invested about 506 billion VND (23.5 million USD) in setting up and implementing 40 projects to settle about 14,080 ethnic families. However, budget capital still has not met the expected need for up to 2.1 trillion VND (97 million USD).

The Steering Committee has petitioned the Government to promulgate and develop new migration policies at the national level and provide additional capital for projects to settle migrant households.

The committee also asked northern mountainous provinces to draw up policies to improve living conditions and restrict the migration of ethnic minorities to Tay Nguyen province.

Meanwhile, Central Highlands provinces have been asked to arrange basic conditions for migrants as well as increase migrant management in the localities.

The Central Highlands, comprising Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces, is home to 5.5 million people, 36.85 percent of which are from 53 ethnic minority groups.-VNA
VNA