Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phu Binh called on the overseas Vietnamese community in the US and in other countries to extend help and assistance to their unfortunate peers
"We will provide aid within our capacity to Hurricane Katrina victims, including our overseas Vietnamese compatriots," said Mr Binh, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, during his talks with the press on September 7.
There are almost 15,000 Vietnamese in the New Orleans, Lousiana, which was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. The community mainly lives on offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and by doing other kinds of services.
Mr Binh said, around one tenth of these people (1,500) had evacuated to Houston, Texas, adding that there are no accurate statistics available on the death toll or the loss of property of the overseas Vietnamese community there.
At present, Vietnamese religious and charitable organisations and individuals in the US are raising funds to assist the victims.
"We (the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese) have asked Vietnamese diplomatic missions in the US to inquire into the situation and join hands in helping those unlucky people to overcome difficulties and to stabilise their lives," Mr Binh said.
He called on the overseas Vietnamese community in the US and in other countries to extend help and assistance to their unfortunate peers.
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