International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have provided over $16 million in aid for Vietnam’s southern province of Dong Nai over the past five years, heard a recent meeting to review the operations of foreign NGOs in the 2006-2011 period. Over the past five years, 67 social welfare and charitable projects were carried out, providing soft loans; free medical check-ups and treatment; and scholarships for the needy as well as building houses and schools for the poor, and protecting the degrading environment. Among the donors, the Swiss Dariu Foundation granted loans, presented scholarships and built schools for poor students in the mountainous district of Tan Phu. Meanwhile, the U.S. Holt International Children’s Services supported orphans and Oxfam Solidarity Belgium helped immigrant workers in Long Binh ward, Bien Hoa city improve their legal and social welfare knowledge. The World Bank also financed HIV/AIDS prevention projects, the Asian Development Bank gave money for a preventive medicine project, and the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation from the U.K. implemented a community sponsorship project. These projects have contributed raising the life quality of orphans, people with disabilities and the poor in the locality. In the coming times, local authorities will encourage NGOs to focus on eight projects on social welfare, humanitarian aid, and education to help better living conditions of the disadvantaged people. In 2010, foreign NGOs disbursed $280 million for projects on humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction in Vietnam and pledged $157 million more at least to the country’s social projects in 2011. Vietnam now has around 1,700 domestic and foreign NGOs operating in the country, including those from the U.S., U.K., Germany, Norway, Australia, Italy, Spain and Hong Kong. (Nhan Dan – The People Mar 20 p3, vov.vn Mar 19, vietnamplus.vn Mar 19)
