Ho Chi Minh City evacuates 2,000 poor tenants from high-risk neighborhoods

About 2,000 residents living in poor-quality tenanted houses in Ho Chi Minh City have been moved to other locations to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection.

The evacuation was carried out by authorities in Binh Thanh District on Thursday.

This plan aims to provide assistance and safety for people living in substandard tenanted houses in areas at high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The residents, who have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, were moved to Cong Doan Hotel and Apartment Building 1050 in Binh Thanh.

They will reside at the new places for 22 days and will be provided with food, cash, and vaccination.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters at Apartment Building 1050, most of the evacuated residents are university students and laborers in difficult circumstances.

Each two-bedroom apartment is arranged for four people.

Many soldiers joined hands to help the residents move their belongings to the new places.

Vu Van Binh, 56, said he was very happy to be given a safer home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Binh used to earn his living by selling lottery tickets, but the job has been suspended due to COVID-19.

“There were a lot of coronavirus cases found in my previous neighborhood, which was very worrying as my wife and I both have underlying health conditions. We have been unable to pay our rent for several months,” the man elaborated.

At Cong Doan Hotel, each 30-quare-meter room can shelter three to four people.

After settling down, the residents were handed meals and other essential items including rice, milk, sugar, and soy sauce.

District authorities also gifted VND500,000 (US$22) to each of the residents.

Aside from the donated supplies, people can buy food and other necessities at mobile grocery trucks in the coming days, according to Vu Ngoc Tuat, secretary of the Binh Thanh Party Committee.

“All residents are required to strictly follow pandemic prevention and control regulations during their stay,” Tuat continued.

“They will be given COVID-19 vaccines in the near future.”

Security and healthcare units, as well as volunteers, have been tasked with taking care of the residents during the period, said Dinh Khac Huy, chairman of the district administration.

Ho Chi Minh City is the hardest-hit locality in the country during the fourth wave, with over 194,000 local infections recorded since April 27.

The municipal authorities have asked people to stay where they are from August 23 to September 6, as part of their drastic measures to push back the serious pandemic.