Vietnam has reported 178,800 hungry families with 737,300 starving people in the first three months of this year, down 10.8% and 10.9% on year, respectively, said the government’s General Statistics Office (GSO). Most of them are living in the northern mountainous provinces, central coastal and Central Highlands areas that are frequently hit by natural calamities. To deal with the situation, the government and local authorities have provided more than 12,200 tons of food and more than VND8.2 billion ($390,500) for famine relief. In its latest report, the World Bank (WB) has called for a “dynamic” approach to poverty reduction in Vietnam as the country is facing tremendous challenges, which include changing regional patterns of poverty and wealth, high and persistent poverty among ethnic minorities, and rising inequality in outcomes and opportunities. Currently, up to 2.58 million households are deemed poor and 1.53 million near-poor, making up 11.76% and 7% of the national population, respectively, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). (GSO Mar Edition)
