Delegates press the button to kick off the 2019 Humanitarian Month in Hà Nội on Saturday.— VNS Photo Thanh Hải

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam and delegates kicked off the 2019 Humanitarian Month in Hà Nội on Saturday.

Chairwoman Ngân, Deputy PM Đam and representatives of Việt Nam Red Cross, local and international guests, and residents in Hà Nội also walked around Hoàn Kiếm Lake to celebrate the month.

Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Đam called on people to offer spiritual and financial support to disadvantaged people and spread humanitarian values.

Đam affirmed that the Party and State support the guidelines and principles of the Red Cross and International Red Crescent movement and create the best possible conditions for the Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s activities.

The Deputy PM hoped that humanitarian spirit will be expanded nationwide all year.

President of Việt Nam Red Cross Society Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu said in 2018, the pilot 2018 Humanitarian Month gained remarkable results in Hà Nội and across the country. The 2018 Humanitarian Month mobilised more than VNĐ243 billion (US$10.4 million) and supported 626,000 people. The society expects to collect at least VNĐ233 billion this year.

On the occasion, the Việt Nam Post Corporation in collaboration with the Việt Nam Red Cross launched the Humanitarian Fund boxes on more than 700 provincial and district agencies of the Việt Nam Postal network to collect funds for humanitarian activities.

With the theme 'Connecting, sharing and spreading', the month will be carried out nationwide to improve people's awareness for humanitarian work and spread humanitarian values, thereby promoting the humanitarian movement in organisations and communities.

During the month, the Việt Nam Red Cross will also collaborate with relevant agencies to launch an SMS donation campaign via the phone number 1407.

At the launching ceremony, the organising board and sponsors handed over bicycles for poor students with outstanding studying results and donated Red Cross houses to veterans in difficult circumstances. — VNS