Vietnam's poverty rate per capita on the threshold of US$ 5.50 a day is forecasted to increase by 3 to 10 percentage points depending on the extent of the pandemic's impact, making Vietnam one of the 20 countries with the fastest-growing poverty rates in the world.
In an interview with VTC1 on the occasion of the International Day of Poverty Alleviation on October 17, Ms. Vu Thi Quynh Hoa, National Director of Oxfam in Vietnam, commented that the government's relief packages were quite modest compared to the proportion of GDP. Loss/reduction of income and gaps in access to social security packages can create new poor groups or push low-income groups into poverty again.
Ms. Quynh Hoa recommended sustainable recovery solutions for Vietnam's poverty reduction work that leaves no one behind:
- Support should prioritize vulnerable groups
- Policies need to maximize the accessibility to vaccines, support education and employment, and increase health insurance coverage
- Support businesses to recover and resume operations
- Increase participation of civil society organizations
Reducing poverty and reducing inequality go hand in hand. Vietnam needs to build a Human Economy for the benefit of people and the planet.
She also highlighted Oxfam's activities in Vietnam to support people to overcome the pandemic:
- In 2020, Oxfam conducted activities to raise awareness in the community and in schools to encourage hygienic practices and prevention of COVID-19 after storms and floods in 4 central provinces: Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Quang Nam;
- Work with Network of Action for Migrant workers (M.net) and media partner agencies to advocate for better relief packages;
- The global campaign "People's Vaccine" has affirmed Vietnam's effective vaccine diplomacy efforts in response to the 4th wave of the pandemic;
- The project "Economic Recovery and Social Protection: responding to food security and livelihoods crisis of COVID-19" is carried out by Oxfam and partners. From distributions of cash, essential food, masks, and medical supplies, ... to measures to improve mental health such as a psychosocial support hotline, the project will support more than 4,000 informal workers affected by the pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong until the end of 2021.
Activities to help people respond to emergency situations such as natural disasters and epidemics are one of Oxfam in Vietnam's priorities.
Watch the full interview on VTC1 (from the 40th minute): https://www.facebook.com/vtc1tintuc/videos/2028675133955105
Read more about Oxfam's recommendation for the bailout: https://www.facebook.com/oxfaminvietnam/posts/4199846576719633
Read more about Oxfam's activities to help people facing difficulties in the pandemic: https://baodansinh.vn/dai-dich-covid-19-tao-ra-nhung-thach-thuc-ve-giam-ngheo-20211108080844.htm