A large number of Vietnam’s people have returned to poverty in the 2005-2012 period due to natural calamities, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said in a report. The poverty rate is normally high in remote areas and regions of ethnic people and hits a record high of between 50% and 70% in several localities in the central region, the northwestern region and Central Highlands, the ministry said at a meeting with the National Assembly (NA)’s Standing Committee on Feb 11. One in every three poor households returned to poverty after suffering through natural disasters, the ministry said. At the NA’s 6th plenary meeting in November 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in his report that the rate of poor households fell from 14.2% in end-2010 to 9.6% in end-2012 and likely to 7.8% at the end of 2013. However, the exact poverty rate remains a big question for local lawmakers as statistics from the government has often been suspiciously inaccurate. Deputy Head of the NA’s Committee for Social Affairs Bui Sy Loi said that there are 36 policies including 75 components and 100 documents guiding the support to the poor. But no agency is responsible for monitoring or making general assessment of the poverty reduction programs. (www.tuoitre.vn [1] Feb 12, Vneconomy.vn Feb 13)
