Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Viet Nam News, September 10, 2005

HA NOI — Dr Nguyen Van Thuong, Chairman of Vietnam’s Red Cross Society (VNRC), called for all VNRC members and people nationwide to raise money and collect goods to donate to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States of America.

At the launching ceremony, Dr Thuong handed over a check worth US$ 20,000 to a representative of the US Ambassador yesterday in Ha Noi.

Hurricane Katrina, which swept through four south-eastern states in the US, is the worst natural disaster in American history. It is estimated that over 10,000 peoples died and that damages will top $100 billion.

Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Mass Mobilization Committee, the Vietnam-US Friendship Association, the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association, and hundreds of Red Cross volunteers.

While the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association presented goods worth $40,000, the Vietnam-US Friendship Association gave VND 10 million.

In addition, the Vietnam Red Cross has decided to send a group of medical workers to help the victims, headed by Prof Ngo Ngoc Vien from the Ha Noi Medical University. It is estimated that about 55,000 Vietnamese in stricken areas were affected by the storm. — VNS