International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) disbursed $280 million for projects on humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction in Vietnam in 2010, up 3.32% from a year earlier. Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union Friendship Organization (VUFO) Nguyen Van Kien released the figure at a press briefing in Hanoi January 20. Representative of foreign NGOs have committed to grant $157 million more at least to the country’s social projects this year, Kien added. Over 700 international NGOs have donated a combined aid of $1.7 billion to Vietnam over the past ten years, mainly for economic growth, healthcare, poverty reduction, and bomb and mine clearance. The Southeast Asian country now has around 1,700 domestic and foreign NGOs. (Tien Phong – Pioneer Jan 21 p12, Tuoi Tre – Youth Jan 21 p2)
