According to the latest statistics from the Da Nang Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as of mid-May, an additional 2,792 families had been lifted above the city’s poverty threshold, fulfilling 71.04% of the year’s target.

A female citizen in Thanh Khe District’s Xuan Ha Ward was given 20 million VND in aid to buy fishing nets as a means of her livelihood.

Mr Nguyen Van An, the Deputy Director of the Department, the city is aiming to lift the remaining families out of poverty by late this year through the organisation of meetings between the local authorities and the poor with the intention of listening to their specific aspirations for overcoming their difficulties.

Over recent years, as part of the city’s poverty reduction programme for the 2016 – 2020 period, preferential credit packages have been offered to poor families in a timely fashion.

Since 2016, a total of 1,053 billion VND has been granted for the poverty reduction fund from the municipal Social Policy Bank and the city budget, along with nearly 100 billion VND from other financial sources.

In particular, each poor family can be offered a financial aid of 30 million VND and 20 million VND from the fund to build a new house or repair its downgraded one, respectively.

Recent years have also seen an increase in the value of periodic allowances for the poor. Of note, poor orphaned and disabled children receive a monthly grant of 300,000 VND per one, whilst those who suffer from chronic and life-threatening diseases are given 500,000 VND each.

In addition, heed has been on ensuring that all poor and very poor households are able to access basic social services, including healthcare service and education.

Needy family members have also been given the chance to join in vocational training courses and job opportunities, as well as to access bank loans at preferential interest rate.

Also, great efforts have been made to providing needy families with suitable means of livelihood to help them increase their incomes, and enhance their living conditions.