Dan Tri has sent VND5m (USD227) and 100kg of rice in urgent support to a 8 year-old girl whose mother had died and father is suffering from serious illness.

Readers from Lam Dong Province give rice to the family

Representatives from Dan Tri along with Le Ngoc Chanh, chairman of Tan Nghia Commune, and Ka Trinh, head of the communal Red Cross Organisation, presented the donation.

Ka Lam Thuyet and her father, Ka Tho, are from K'ho ethnic group. Thuyet's mother committed suicide three years ago and her father found odd jobs which provided a small income. Three months ago, her father fell ill and his belly became swollen. He was diagnosed with liver fibrosis but without money, he could only stay home. He is now unable to move around.

Thuyet has to pick up wild vegetables and ask for rice from the neighbours to take care of her father. Her wish was to be able to eat meat with her father.

Thuyet was delighted to receive the donation. Her father said, "It has been a while since she saw so much rice at home."

Le Ngoc Chanh, chairman of Tan Nghia Commune, and
Ka Trinh, head of the communal Red Cross Organisation,
presented the donation 

Ka Tho went on to say that since their story was published, many people had called and sent them gifts. Two readers from Lam Dong Province visited them at home with meat and rice. "I want to give them a little gift. It's not much but it's a way of showing our concern to them," one of the two donators said.

"I told Thuyet to keep going to school now that we have food. I'll save the money to go to HCM City for treatment. I'm afraid of dying, what'll happen to my daughter?" he said.

"Thank you everyone. Now I have rice and meat, I don't have to ask around for rice and eat green papaya anymore," Thuyet said.

Chairman of Tan Nghia Commune Le Ngoc Chanh expressed gratitude to everyone that helped Thuyet's family. "As a mountainous commune, we have many difficulties and can only help them so much. It's lucky that they are getting help and encouragement from the community like this while they are in the darkest times."