Thanh Hoa (VNA) – As many as 38 ICOM radio devices have been offered to fishermen in Thanh Hoa under the programme “East Sea connectivity” at a ceremony held in the central province on January 19.
Initiated by the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC), the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Television and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Radio, the programme calls for domestic and foreign aid to equip fishermen nationwide with communication devices.
Chairwoman of the provincial Red Cross Association Trinh Thi Tiep said Vietnam has about 130,000 fishing boats, but less than 10 percent of which have been equipped with communication devices.
She added that the activity is to support fishermen in keeping a close watch on the weather, enabling them to contact the mainland as needed during offshore fishing operations, thus ensuring their safety.
The charity programme calls on individuals and organisations to support fishermen, by sending a text message to switchboard 1400.
Under the programme, the VRC has brought 747 ICOM devices and allocated them to 24 coastal provinces and cities nationwide.-VNA