On behalf of his team, Fr. Paul Nguyen Thai Son, SJ, has written an open letter to seek assistance from donors in taking emergency actions to support individuals heavily affected by Covid-19 in Saigon and neighboring areas. In his letter, Fr. Son described “serious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Vietnam, particularly in Saigon, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai in recent months.”
“The consequence of COVID-19 is not only shown in the rising number of positive cases and fatalities, it is also demonstrated in hunger amongst all poor households in affected areas. By poor households, we mean that they are workers, teachers, constructors, lottery sellers, freelancers, who can only earn enough money for daily needs. If they work hard, they can save money for emergencies or illnesses. Sadly, after being unemployed for three months, they had to spend their last pennies to pay the rent, daily food, and so on. The thought of dying of hunger is no longer a far-fetched one,” Fr. Son described the current situation of Saigon and its neighboring provinces.
In response to this situation, Fr. Son and his team have initiated a project named “SỮA CHO BÉ & CHÁO TẶNG NGƯỜI CAO NIÊN” (Milk for Children and Nutritious Soups for the Elderly) to support children and the elderly. They have also collaborated with the so-called “Siêu thị 0 VND” (0 VND Supermarket) founded by some Catholic Youth in Saigon, to contribute basic necessities such as rice for the affected families.
For more information, kindly visit this site: https://callforsupport.dongten.net/eng
