Dan Tri (DTiNews) has just sent 100 kilos of rice and VND 5 million as urgent support to help a poor family in Bac Lieu Province.

The paper decided to provide a donation following the publishing of the story of 17 year-old Tran Huynh Ngoc Nu who has to take care of her sick father and two younger brothers after her mother left them.

A DTiNews reporter visited Nu's house in Dong Hai District on March 24 to give the donation of 100 kilos of rice and VND 5 million.

From right to left: Nu's father and she received rice and money from DTiNews reporter on March 24.

According to chairman of Long Dien Commune's Red Cross Association, Pham Van Hon, he has received many phone calls from many people asking about Nu's family after their story was published on DTiNews.

"Many readers have vowed to send money to help the family," Hon told DTiNews.

During the meeting with the family, DTiNews asked the family to use the money to treat the father's disease and support the brothers in their studies.

Nu said her family was very grateful to DTiNews and many other people's support and would use these valued donations carefully.

After finishing Grade 9, Tran Huynh Ngoc Nu in Long Dien Commune, Long Hai District had to stay at home to support her family when her mother left home 11 years ago. Her father faced a cerebral vascular accident two years ago which left him unable to work.

Nu's family

The young girl has supported her family ever since. Every day, she earns around VND10,000 (40 US Cents) from selling water lilies that she picks from the nearby pond. This small amount of money is only enough for her family to buy rice every day.

However, the water-lily flowers in the pond have almost died due to the lack of water resulted from the Mekong Delta region's long drought, affecting the family's means of living.

Nu's 15 year-old younger brother will leave school to find work help support the family.