Ha Noi (VNA)- A 6.8 million Euro project, funded by the European Commission, kicked off in Ha Noi on Thursday to help reduce the population of street children in Viet Nam through family reunions.

Project coordinators from the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) said the project also aims to re-establish street children's rights to education and healthcare as well as to protect those children who risk losing their rights.

The project will be carried out in 16 cities and provinces across Viet Nam for 36 months up to August, 2007.

The street children problem remains a hot potato in Viet Nam despite the number of policies and projects on children protection and care that have been launched, said Deputy MOLISA Minister Dam Huu Dac.

In addition to the Law for Child Protection and Care, the Government has announced an on-going annual programmes to take care of and protect disadvantaged children. At the same time, grassroots administrations launched their own projects in support of the target children such as to help them reintegrate in their families or to provide free healthcare and vocational training for those who are unable to reunite with their families.