Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary andPresident Nguyen Phu Trong called on agencies, organisations, businesses andpeople from all social strata to join hands in supporting disadvantaged people,while addressing an event in Hanoi on January 13.

The “Strength of humanity 2019” prorgamme,themed “Tet for the poor and Agent Orange victims”, was organised by theVietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) to call for assistance to the people withdisadvantages in the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday – the biggest annualtraditional festival of the country.

The leader, who is also Honorary Chairman of theVRC, said humanity is a precious tradition of Vietnam that has been passed downfrom generation to generation.

He emphasised the VRC’s role in humanitarianactivities and spoke highly of its annual “Strength of humanity” programme.

Most of the poor, underprivileged and vulnerableare in mountainous, remote and disaster-prone areas, he noted, adding that theParty and State will push on with concerted economic and social solutions tohelp the groups improve their lives.

In these efforts, the community holds a criticalrole, General Secretary and President Trong stressed.

VRC Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said the organisation,founded in 1946 by then President Ho Chi Minh, has established itself as thecore and the coordinator of humanitarian activities across the country.

Notably, the “Tet for the poor and Agent Orangevictims” movement, launched in 1999, has so far raised nearly 6.7 trillion VND(287.5 million USD) to support over 22 million impoverished and welfarebeneficial households and Agent Orange victims. 

Aid has been offered in various practical forms,including the provision of cash and cows, helping to build houses, andproviding free medical check-up and medicine, she noted.

On this occasion, the VRC Central Committeelaunched a text message campaign to mobilise support for less privilegedpeople. Donors can text TET to 1407 from now to February 12 to contribute20,000 VND per message to the fund.

Notably, organisers also auctioned the ball andthe jersey with the autographs of players and coaches of the national men’sfootball team who recently won the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. These were the giftsfrom the team to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who later handed them to theVRC Central Committee to auction for fundraising purposes. The result of theauction will be announced in May.

At the programme on January 13, 51.2 billion VNDand over 2 million gift packs were donated while more than 2,100 text messagessent to help poor people and Agent Orange victims.-VNA