Vietnam
CRS' supports inclusive education for people with disabilities at the Hanoi College of Information Technology. Photo by Sean Sprague for CRS
Vietnam is a country in transition. In recent decades, Vietnam has seen rapid economic growth, resulting in many positive changes, but also creating challenges. There is a widening gap between the rich and the poor. The rapid economic growth has also led to societal problems, such as human trafficking, HIV and AIDS, corruption and environmental ruin. Catholic Relief Services works with many partners to meet emerging needs and ensure that all citizens benefit from Vietnam's recent economic growth and development.
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Stats
| Population: | 86,967,524 (July 2009 est.) |
| Size: | 127,243 sq mi; equivalent in size to Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee combined |
| People Served: | 146,179 (2011 est.) |
History
Catholic Relief Services reopened an office in Hanoi in 1994 as part of a postwar normalization process between Vietnam and the United States. Previously, in a very different context, CRS had worked to meet the social needs of people displaced during wartime in southern Vietnam. Since reopening, CRS programming has focusing on building Vietnamese capacity to respond to emergencies and natural disasters, to reduce poverty, and to foster equitable development. CRS Vietnam now works with both government and nongovernmental partners to improve the education and health care systems in Vietnam.
Partners
The U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement promotes peace, stability and prosperity through the removal and destruction of weapons —such as landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)—that remain in countries after armed conflict has ended. Through the Humanitarian Mine Action program, the office funds CRS Vietnam's UXO/mine risk education programming in communities and schools on both sides of the former demilitarized zone. Since 2006, more than 30,000 children, youth and adults have increased their capacity to avoid UXO accidents thanks to the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement's support of CRS programs.
