Humanitarian activities are, first, deeds of compassion, but then take on greater significance in the political and social arenas, bringing joy to unfortunate families, said President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Receiving a delegation of the Vietnam Relief Association for Handicapped Children (VRAHC) on Aug. 7, President Triet said the Party and the State applauded and thanked humanitarian and charity organisations for giving care to the needy, particularly handicapped children and orphans, in Vietnam, helping them integrate into the community.

Praising the VRAHC’s activities, President Triet stressed that nowadays many people are still suffering from the consequences of war, and that the Party and the State, despite their best efforts, cannot care for all their needs.

He expressed the wish that the association, together with other humanitarian and charity organisations, businesses and benefactors in and outside the country, would do more to help those less fortunate.

The VRAHC was formed in 1993 to mobilise community assistance, and open establishments to provide medical check-ups and treatment, rehabilitation, vocational training and jobs for disabled children.

The association now has four branches - in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces - and 36 relief centres and houses at the grassroots level.

Nearly 600,000 handicapped children have so far received medical check-ups and treatment, and over 5,800 of them have received surgeries.

Some 1,200 handicapped children have been provided with vocational training and employment.

In addition, the association has organised three courses of surgeries for disabled children in neighbouring Laos and Cambodia./.