The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) on October 27 received 75,000 USD in kind from the Japanese Government as to assist the care given by volunteer Vietnamese doctors.

The supplies, including ultrasound machines, heart monitors, medical testing equipment and X-ray machines, will be distributed to a delegation of 40 voluntary doctors to enable them to examine and treat people in remote areas, especially the handicapped and Agent-Orange/dioxide victims, nationwide.

These doctors are now working at 955 clinics across the nation, under the sponsorship by the VRC. Annually, they supply free medicine to local people living in difficult conditions and also conduct free examinations and treatment.

The Japanese Government has so far this year channelled a number of aid packages through Japan’s Red Cross to the VRC, including nearly 4 million USD to help plant 24,000 hectares of mangrove forests in eight northern cities and provinces - Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh.

Japan’s Red Cross has also pledged to grant 163,000 Swiss francs (over 160,000 USD) as relief aid to Typhoon Ketsana victims in Central and Central Highlands provinces.

Also on October 27, the VRC received 400,000 USD from the Norwegian Government for the worst-hit victims of the storm. The total aid for those victims through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has now reached to 2.7 million Swiss francs./.