The authorities have decided to support a project to build 40,000 flood-resistant homes in 14 central provinces between 2014 to 2016.
Minister of Construction announces the programme
In 2012, a pilot programme was launched in the central region, which is often hit by storms and typhoons. 700 households located in the most affected areas were given support to build flood-resistant houses. After the success of the pilot programme, authorities in the central region proposed expanding it to 14 other cities and provinces.
On September 26, the Ministry of Construction held a conference to announce the implementation of Resolution no.48 on support for the poor in the central region. The new policy is expected to improve life for thousands of people.
Poor households, which are not on the list of other aid programmes and have houses in which the floor is lower than 1.5 metres above sea level, will be eligible.
Each household will be given between VND12 million and VND16 million, depending on their situation. The households will also be eligible for loans as high as VND15 million (USD714) with an annual interest rate of 3% over 10 years. The programme is to be financed with state funds, local budgets, the fund for the poor and from donor organisations and individuals.
The Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung assigned the highest responsibility to the Steering Committee for the Poverty Reduction. The committee was asked to create a plan with the ministry's guidance in order to design flood-resistant houses based on the people's living habits and terrains, and to popularise the programme among the public.
