Hanoi (VNA) – Free meals have been delivered to theneedy in Hanoi as part of a programme launched by the Vietnam Volunteer Centreunder the Ho Chi Minh Communist YouthUnion (HCYU) Central Committee,the Vietnam Youth Federation ofHanoi, artists and donors in the city.

The programme aimsto support people facing difficulties in the city where strict social distancingmeasures are being applied as part of efforts to prevent the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the first day of launching on July 24, 200 meals weredelivered to poor patients in Le Thanh Nghi street in Hai Ba Trung district,where patients suffering kidney diseases gather.

On July 25 night, additional 300 meals and 200 loafs ofbread were given to poor patients, workers and students in many areas acrossthe city.

According to the organising board, the programme will makeabout 1,000 meals each day with the careful implementation of food safetyregulations. The meals will be delivered with the support of the Pickup VietnamClub.

The Vietnam YouthFederation of Hanoi has called for support from donors to the programme in anyform, thus contributing to assisting people in Hanoi to overcome the pandemic.

The capital city has been applying strict social distancingmeasures from 6am on July 24 to prevent further spread ofthe COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the new measures, all public transport servicesincluding buses, taxis, contract vehicles and coaches are banned,excluding those in service of pandemic prevention and control and transportingworkers and experts. Motorbikes are also suspended from transportingpassengers.

People in the city are asked to stay at home and only go outside in necessarycases like business trips, working at essential businesses (State agencies,factories, essential shops and service providers), buy food and medicines,or emergencies such as medical issues, fires or natural disasters.

Adverse impacts from the pandemic have caused manydifficulties, especially vulnerable groups such as poor patients, workers, and students./.