Campaign to support Cuban people in Vietnam attracts international press attention

The campaign to support the Cuban people, led by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross, has attracted widespread attention from the international press. The New York Times (USA) described it as a testament to the solidarity of the people of the two countries, while Granma (Cuba) emphasized that the amount of money raised exceeded the initial target by five times.

In an article published on August 19, the New York Times (USA) reported that Vietnam's fundraising campaign to support Cuba took place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

The article begins by describing a Vietnamese character named Dinh Hien Mo, 33 years old - who learned about the campaign calling for support for the Cuban people through an article shared on social media.

Mr. Do Van Chien (fifth from right), Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central mass organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and delegates pressed the button to launch the Program. (Photo: Vietnam Fatherland Front)

She watched and read about meaningful stories about Vietnam and Cuba during the period when Vietnam was facing many difficulties. During the difficult war period, Cuba helped Vietnam many times, building hospitals, sending good doctors, sugar cane and livestock to Vietnam. Touched by the good feelings that the Cuban people had given to Vietnam in the past, she decided to donate 500,000 VND from the modest income of her family's grocery store to help Cuba overcome the current difficulties soon.

The New York Times described Dinh Hien Mo’s donation as joining the wave of Vietnamese people sharing their feelings with the Cuban people in a fundraising campaign launched by the Vietnam Red Cross . The newspaper said that in just the first week, the campaign raised more than $13 million - far exceeding the organizers’ expectations.

According to the article, for many people in both Cuba and Vietnam, the above donations have helped recall the years of solidarity, when the two peoples shared the desire for national independence under the revolutionary flag.

In recent years, to support Cuba, Vietnamese economic experts have also frequently visited Havana to share their experiences. However, the US embargo has had a significant impact on Cuba since 1962. Currently, many economic sectors of Cuba are facing many difficulties. Over the years, Vietnam has continued to call on the US to soon lift the embargo on Cuba, while increasing support activities for Havana, especially rice aid.

The US newspaper assessed that the crowdfunding campaign in Vietnam has the meaning of connecting people to people of the two countries. More than 1.7 million donations have been recorded, from amounts of only 10,000 VND to larger amounts, to donate to the Cuban people.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez posted an article on social network X expressing his gratitude for the above action of the Vietnamese people. The Cuban leader called this “an act of love” coming from “a hardworking, heroic nation that has stood up after many wars and now makes the world admire its sustainable development”.

“I know that the support from Vietnam will not be enough to solve everything, but I hope it will help a little. And I hope that the Cuban economy will improve so that people there can have a better life,” Dinh Hien Mo told the New York Times.

On the same day, Granma, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of Cuba, published an article titled "Millions of dollars join the campaign to support Cuba in Vietnam". The article cited figures from the Vietnam Red Cross, saying that by 11am on August 19, the amount of money raised was VND341.1 billion (about USD13.12 million), five times the initial target. Among them was a donation from the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital (Dong Hoi, Quang Binh) - one of five hospitals sponsored by leader Fidel Castro when he visited Vietnam in 1973.

On August 18, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) also launched a campaign to support the Cuban people "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship", responding to the campaign program of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society.

Granma quoted Ms. Vu Viet Trang, General Director of VNA, affirming the special relationship between the two countries: "This partnership has become an exemplary symbol of international solidarity, overcoming the test of time and difficulties", and recalled the famous statement of Leader Fidel Castro: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood!" has become a symbol of loyal love, forever engraved by the Vietnamese people.

Previously, on August 15, Peoples Dispatch (India) reported on mass movements in India and Vietnam celebrating the 99th birthday of Fidel Castro, and launching a fundraising campaign to support the Cuban people.

According to the Vietnam Red Cross, as of 8:00 p.m. on August 19, the campaign to support the Cuban people had received 1.76 million contributions totaling VND346.7 billion.

Information on receiving support for the Cuban people:

- Unit name: VIETNAM RED CROSS SOCIETY

- Account number: 2022

- Bank: Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBBank)

- Transfer content: CUBA

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/chien-dich-ung-ho-nhan-dan-cua-tai-viet-nam-thu-hut-su-chu-y-cua-bao-chi-quoc-te-215679.html