Deputy PM inspects recovery efforts in cold spell-hit Sa Pa

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc inspected recovery efforts in Sa Pa district, in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on January 28 following the recent severe cold spell.

Together with Bat Xat, Sa Pa is one of the localities hardest hit by the cold, suffering temperatures as low as -4.2 degrees Celsius – the coldest in the past 60 years.

Snow blanketed 18 communes and townships, disrupting traffic and agro-forestry production.

The cold weather also killed 168 heads of cattle in more than 120 poor and near-poor households and damaged 250ha of vegetables in nearly 950 households, resulting in an economic loss of billions of VND.

Eighty percent of water pipelines in the locality have been frozen.

The Deputy PM, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region, took the occasion to call for all possible resources to restore production and help locals stabilise their lives.

The Ministry of Finance was requested to providing funding for recovery efforts while the Health Ministry is to supply medicines to affected families.

He also suggested the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Bank for Social Policies help with funding for production and farming.

Phuc hoped that local authorities will ensure social welfare services to residents and bring them a warm and happy Lunar New Year festival.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Red Cross Society, credit organisations and local firms presented gifts worth 2.9 billion VND (131,000 USD) to the poor and affected families.-VNA