Hanoi (VNA) - A UNDP report has found that some 30percent of respondents in Vietnam who have disabilities were made unemployed bythe COVID-19 pandemic while another 49 percent saw their working hours cut.

The report, which provided a rapid assessment of thesocioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on Vietnamese with disabilities, was releasedby UNDP Vietnam on May 12.

It aimed to identify the health and socioeconomic challengesfacing the disabled and their families during the pandemic and formulaterecommendations to the government on COVID-19 disability-inclusive response andrecovery.

The assessment was organized within the framework of theProvincial Administrative Performance Index (PAPI) project, which is funded bythe Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Embassy of Irelandin Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project, supported bythe Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

It was conducted through an online survey of nearly 1,000people with disabilities nationwide between April 14 and 28. Phone andface-to-face interviews were also organized for those who live in remote areasor had difficulties in completing the survey online. In total, 986 responses tothe questionnaire were received.

The survey also found that 59 percent of respondents sawtheir incomes reduced. Only 3 percent are actively looking for another job,while 19 percent are exploring additional ways to earn an income.

Some 71 percent of respondents had seasonal or informal jobsor were informal business owners, so are at risk of being ineligible forallowances from social welfare packages announced by the Government.

Only people certified as having severe or extremely severedisabilities are automatically entitled to receive assistance from the package,leaving out those with only mild disabilities, according to the report. AsGovernment interventions are being rolled out around the country, it isexpected that many more people with disabilities will receive support in theweeks ahead.

The report also indicated that awareness among people withdisabilities during COVID-19 were high, with 67 percent of respondents feelingwell informed.

The report put forward certain recommendations to the VietnameseGovernment, including prioritising support for people with disabilities inurgent need of medical care and services and providing tele-health serviceswhere appropriate to facilitate health monitoring in the home.

It also urges the Government to provide food, financialallowances, and housing rental and utility bill support to ensure the financialsecurity of those with disabilities, and guarantee that Government supportpackages are disability-inclusive by ensuring that coverage includes those workingin the informal sector, by providing information on the package, and byintroducing simple and transparent procedures./.