Hanoi (VNA) – The Australian Government will provide 1 billion VND this year to assist Vietnam ’s efforts to prevent trafficking of women and children in northern border Lang Son province.

Announced on March 25, the assistance will provided through the Australian Agency of International Development (AusAID) with the Centre for Community Health Promotion (CCHP) as the Vietnamese partner.

CCHP Director Tran Minh Gioi said the one-year project, starting from March 2008, is hoped to reach 8,000 people, including 2,000 school children and 400 women and children in high risk groups.

The assistance is part of Australia ’s Asia Regional Trafficking Persons Project which helps countries in Southeast Asia tackle the problem of human trafficking.