A representative of Aviva Vietnam hands over donation to Việt Nam Red Cross Society to help people overcome difficulties caused by COVID-19. — Photo Courtesy Aviva Vietnam

HCM CITY — An international savings, retirement and insurance business, the Aviva Group, has donated over VNĐ1.4 billion (US$60,000) to the Việt Nam Red Cross Society to support an initiative to help people recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The donation is part of the 10 million pounds ($12.4 million) committed by the Aviva Group and the Aviva Foundation so that the global Red Cross movement can ensure those who were made most vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic get the right support at the right time.

Việt Nam Red Cross will use this fund to organise the "Humanitarian Market" programme in 26 cities and provinces across the country. 

The "Humanitarian Market" programme is designed to support vulnerable people who were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically families covered under specific policies, the poor, the unemployed, the disabled, and people with no temporary income or loss of income caused by the pandemic. 

Agricultural products supplied to the programme will be purchased by Việt Nam Red Cross from farmers affected by revenue loss caused by COVID-19. With this approach, the programme can effectively support both poor families and struggling farmers at the same time.

Nguyễn Thu Thuỷ, human resources director of Aviva Vietnam, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still complicated in many parts of the world, and we are very lucky that the situation in Việt Nam is under control. In this context, Aviva is very honoured to join hands with Việt Nam Red Cross in supporting the disadvantaged group of people affected by the disease. We look forward to continuing to accompany the Việt Nam Red Cross in other humanitarian and community development activities in the near future."

From 2017 to the present, Aviva has co-operated with the Việt Nam Red Cross to organise programmes of the Aviva Community Fund with total funding of over VNĐ4.5 billion ($192,000). The programme has helped to realise many community development projects in Việt Nam, while encouraging groups of people to provide solutions to specific and urgent problems in their respective localities. — VNS