Moreover, 2000 tons of rice will be also sent to the hardest hit central province of Quang Ngai, where the Typhoon Ketsana caused at least 35 dead, 4 injured and 67,100 damaged houses with a total toll of almost 5 trillion dong.

Reportedly, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung Oct. 2 decided to grant 220 billion VND in aid from the State budget and 7,000 tonnes of rice to the victims of natural disasters in 15 provinces nationwide.

The relief aid will be used to stabilise the food supply and living conditions of those affected, and repair local infrastructure such as schools and health-care facilities, as well as undertake emergency work on irrigation, transport and flood prevention networks.

Ealier, the PM also decided to allocate 460 billion VND and 10,000 tonnes of rice to eight provinces hit by typhoon Ketsana late September. Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang , Quang Nam , Binh Dinh, Kon Tum and Quang Ngai, where received an urgent aid of 80 billion and 2,500 tons of rice from the Central Government.

M.H