Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee President Nguyen Thien Nhan has called on organisations and individuals at home and abroad to continue support for poor people, especially those affected by natural calamities, to help them overcome difficulties and escape poverty.

He made the appeal at a ceremony in Hanoi on October 17 to launch the “Month for the Poor”, which will run until November 18.

VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan (2nd from R) and delegates at the event

According to Nhan, since it was set up in 2010, the “Fund for the Poor” has received 11.45 trillion VND (515.25 million VND) and mobilised over 31 trillion VND for social welfare programs, contributing to the country’s social stability.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said that multidimentional sustainable poverty reduction is one of the key policies of the Party and State.

This is not only an economic issue but also a condition to ensure political and social stability, national defence and security, he affirmed.

The Party and State always pursue a strategy of developing economy in conjunction with social progress and equality, thus narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, he added.

At the ceremony, organisations and enterprises pledged to donate over 348 billion VND (15.6 million USD) to the fund for the poor.

Source: VNA