Vulnerable Populations

USAID's programs to assist vulnerable groups focus on services for persons with disabilities, the disadvantaged and ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands, Vietnamese affected by disaster, and victims of human trafficking. Since 1989, USAID has provided $66.5 million to help vulnerable populations.

SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
USAID's activities range from national policies and legislation development to direct services to Vietnamese with disabilities. The program helps disabled people fully integrate into society by improving access to health, education and employment services. It supports local governments in ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and influences public policies that affect their lives. USAID has provided rehabilitation services for tens of thousands of people with disabilities, education and vocational training including in information technology, job placement, support to parent associations to expand their advocacy for disability issues, and enhanced barrier-free access codes.

IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES
In the Central Highlands, USAID supports efforts to improve the lives and well-being of socially and economically marginalized groups through improved access to quality education, including lower secondary boarding school construction and pre-school refurbishment; school administration: teacher training, agriculture extension services; on-the job and vocational education, including horticulture and animal husbandry; and support for selected households through small-scale, income-generation activities so as to allow families to send children to school.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
USAID counters transnational crime through increased public awareness, training of GVN law enforcement officers and working with private sector to promote good labor practices and raise awareness of labor trafficking issues. USAID strives to improve shelter services, specifically, health and psychological counseling for returnees who were illicitly recruited into the commercial sex trade or were victims of labor exploitation and provide vocational training. USAID works with Vietnamese NGOs to provide services for victims of trafficking as well as conducting research on TIP relevant issues. In the past projects, USAID provided safe migration skills for youth inside and outside school and support GVN in developing guidance for strengthening protection and services for victims of trafficking.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
USAID assists families affected by natural disasters such as floods and typhoons, reduces vulnerability of urban communities through better disaster preparedness and mitigation, and improves the capacity of first responders and healthcare facilities to better manage emergencies and mass casualty events, with the aim of reducing mortality and increasing the survival rate of disaster victims.