Ho Chi Minh City has collected a total of VND139 billion (US$7.1 million), donated by domestic and foreign individuals and organizations, for central provinces that have suffered from severe storms and floods in 2010, the HCMC Relief Committee said on Monday.
Deputy chairman of the HCMC Fatherland Front Committee, Huynh Dang Linh, said that since October 6 to December 24, the city received nearly VND53 billion and 247,000 kilograms of commodities including rice, instant noodles, clothes, blankets, milk products and notebooks for central people.
Additionally, media organizations raised a subscription of VND86.3 billion, with the Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper alone collecting VND1.6 billion and 7.5 tons of goods.
Moreover, the HCMC has donated VND3.4 billion to purchase train and bus tickets for workers and poor students from the flood hit provinces, so that they may be able to return to their homes for the Tet holiday.
The city has also given presents to workers who are not able to return home for Tet, because of financial difficulties.
