Lack Of Resettlement Housing Drives HCM City Families into Poverty

Up to 25 households in Nha Be District, HCM City are now living in temporary houses after their land was provided to a project to build Saigon-Hiep Phuoc Port. In August 2009, they gave their land to the project and the investor promised to hand over the resettlement houses to them two years later, but to date, they have done nothing to fulfill their commitment. The families have been forced to live in terrible housing at high risk of being swept away during bad weather. Mr. Nho said that before the project was implemented, his family had over 11,000 square metres used for growing coconut trees. Every month, they could save nearly VND10 million (USD476.1) from coconuts and catching fish in the nearby Muong Lon Canal. His ten person family only received VND69 million (USD3,285) from the investor during the last two years, less than VND3 million (USD142.8) per month. This hasn’t proved enough for them to pay a monthly rent on a house and they no longer earn anything from their coconut plantation. Without the site clearance project, they could have built a big house. Nho said, he has to reinforce the house at least twice a month due to the frequent floods. “We have no other choice because hiring a 60-square metre house in Nha Be costs around VND3 million per month," Mrs. Thuy added that they had no other option in terms of housing. Many other households are similarly affected. Each of them has received nothing from the investors besides compensation of VND72 million (USD3,428) for every 1,000 square metres of land. They fish on Muong Lon canal and travel to every corner of Hiep Phuoc Commune to earn money. According to the People's Committee of Nha Be District, the investor promised to hand over the resettlement houses for them in 2011, but to date, the project has not yet been started. (dtinews.vn June 26)