Vietnamese communities in Laos donate to support disaster victims

The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos held a fundraising event in Vientiane, on September 24, to support Vietnamese victims of the previous Typhoon Doksuri in mid-September and Lao local people hit by Storm Sonca in late July.

Overseas Vietnamese in Laos make donations in support of Vietnamese and Lao people affected by natural disasters, Vientiane, September 24. (Credit: NDO)
Overseas Vietnamese in Laos make donations in support of Vietnamese and Lao people affected by natural disasters, Vientiane, September 24. (Credit: NDO)

The Vietnamese community in Laos, the embassy staff, and representatives of Vietnamese enterprises operating in Laos gathered to make donations to support disaster victims.

On behalf of the overseas Vietnamese in Laos, Dao Minh Chau, President of the Vietnamese People Association in Vientiane, said that after receiving information from the embassy calling for donations to support Vietnamese and Lao people affected by natural disasters, the overseas Vietnamese in Vientiane in particular, and in the host country in general, have been eager to donate and share the difficulties with their compatriots in Vietnam and the affected Lao people.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Minister-Counselor to Laos, Nguyen Thanh Tung, expressed his sincere gratitude to the overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese organisations, individuals and businesses in Laos for supporting both the Vietnamese and Lao people affected by the natural disasters.

He affirmed that the supportive activities reflect the fine tradition of Vietnamese people in supporting each other and sharing the difficulties and hardships that Vietnamese and Lao people suffer from typhoons and floods.

Tung also informed those present that half of the proceeds collected from the donation will be remitted by the Vietnamese embassy through the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to quickly support their Vietnamese compatriots, while the remaining will be donated to the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to be transferred to local people in areas damaged by Typhoon Sonca.

Sonca caused heavy rains, flooding and landslides in 14 provinces of Laos, claiming ten lives and causing damage estimated at approximately 55.5 billion kip. The Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare issued a notice calling on the entire society to support locals in areas damaged by the typhoon.

Van Thi Minh, a Vietnamese citizen residing in Vientiane, shared with Nhan Dan correspondents in Laos that such activities offer an opportunity to show their sentiment to the people in Vietnam that have suffered from natural disasters. According to Minh, the overseas Vietnamese in Laos always head towards the motherland and make timely donations to share in the difficulties and losses of those in trying circumstances.

As of mid-Sunday, US$15,550 had been raised from the donations in total. The campaign will last until September 29.

Unitel Deputy Director General Nguyen Canh Hoa (fourth from right) hands over the money collected by Unitel staff to Minister-Counselor Nguyen Thanh Tung (third from left) to support victims affected by natural disasters. (Credit: NDO)