The Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s HCM City Chapter receives donations at a ceremony to launch humanitarian month on May 9. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s HCM City Chapter on Tuesday launched its humanitarian month, with more than VNĐ90.9 billion (US$3.9 million) committed to be donated to various humanitarian programmes. 

The donations will benefit more than 49,200 disadvantaged people and fund construction of seven bridges in rural areas and five charitable kitchens, among other humanitarian programmes.

The humanitarian month, themed “building a compassionate community together”, will run until May 31.

It is aimed at promoting a humanitarian movement to do good deeds and mobilise organisations and individuals to participate in humanitarian activities.

Speaking at the launching event, Dương Anh Đức, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the humanitarian month will help raise public awareness on the humanitarian movement and spread good deeds and a spirit of sharing throughout communities.

It has drawn the participation of more young people to charitable activities, Đức said.

He called on organisations and individuals to offer kind donations to help poor and disadvantaged people and contribute to the city’s sustainable poverty reduction.

A total of 107 humanitarian programmes worth more than VNĐ46 billion ($1.9 million) were implemented during the humanitarian month in May last year, benefiting 149,000 disadvantaged people. —VNS