Five foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have committed more than 6.1 million USD in support of the central province of Quang Tri for the 2014-2017 period.

The Mine Advisory Group (MAG), World Vision, Plan, Zhi-Shan Foundation, and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) pledged the aid under agreements inked with the provincial People’s Committee at a conference on August 21.

Vice Chairman of the committee Nguyen Duc Chinh spoke highly of the effectiveness of projects funded by foreign NGOs, saying they have helped his locality reduce poverty, clear unexploded ordnance, and prevent and mitigate disasters.

From 2011 to 2013, foreign organisations and individuals donated over 26 million USD to humanitarian projects in Quang Tri.

Such assistance has helped give a facelift to rural and ethnic minority-inhabited areas across the province. Notably, the rate of household poverty fell from 16.41 percent to 11.56 percent over the period.

During the conference, representatives from NGOs shared their experience in solving such matters as unexploded ordnance and regional cooperation.

The provincial People’s Committee also took this occasion to present certificates of merit to four organisations and four individuals with great contributions to local development.-VNA