Authorities in Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City have approved five humanitarian projects and 16 aid packages funded by international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in the first three months of 2012. This information was released by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (UFO) at a meeting on April 24 to review INGO contributions to the city’s socio-economic development. These projects focused on health care, HIV/AIDS prevention, social affairs, education, child care, and environmental protection. Through the projects, such NGOs also support disabled people, grant scholarships to advantaged students and help the poor and farmers better improve their living standards. In 2011, the city gave a nod to 16 such projects totaling $7 million and 136 aid packages from NGOs, the UFO said. Also at the event, the municipal UFO presented certificates of merit to nine NGOs and two individuals in recognition of their remarkable contributions to its socio-economic development. More than 150 foreign NGOs are currently operating in HCM City, in comparison with a total of 1,700 domestic and foreign NGOs in the entire country, including those from the U.S., U.K., Germany, Norway, Australia, Italy, Spain and Hong Kong. (vov.vn April 24)
