The French Red Cross (FRC) has committed 19 billion VND (roughly 1.03 million USD) in relief aid for storm victims in several central and Central Highlands provinces.

A memo to this effect was signed between the French and Vietnamese Red Cross in Hanoi on January 28, with a view to providing supplies of rice and food prior to the lunar New Year festival (Tet)—along with rice seedlings, fertiliser and live stock after Tet, to help storm victims boost their household economies.

The commitment was made on top of 13.5 billion VND in emergency relief for the targeted provinces of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh in the central region and Gia Lai and Kon Tum in the Central Highlands, which were hit by two deadly storms in 2009.

During its eight-day trip, the FRC delegation, led by its President Prof. Jean Francois Mattel, also paid a visit to its projects in the mountainous northern province of Bac Kan and the central provinces of Phu Yen and Binh Dinh.

Bac Kan province, for example, has benefited from a safe water supply and environmental hygiene project valued 12 billion VND funded by the FRC.

The Vietnam Red Cross and its French counterpart have enjoyed traditional cooperative ties in various fields, ranging from primary healthcare to community-based first aid, through urgent response and post-disaster reconstruction.

The FRC-funded projects include the construction of a first-aid system entailing assistance to medical stations and medical distribution in the Mekong Delta provinces of Can Tho and Soc Trang. The French humanitarian agency also extended assistance in road safety and first aid and pharmaceutical stations to the northern port city of Hai Phong , the southernmost province, Ca Mau, and the south-western border province of Kien Giang . Other projects supported poverty reduction for the Mekong Delta provinces of Long An, Dong Thap and An Giang./.