Lang Son (VNA)ꦯ – The northern province of Lang Son has completed construction and repair of 6,508 homes for disadvantaged households, marking the full fulfilment of its programme to eradicate temporary and dilapidated houses by August 28.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the programme included 3,840 newly built houses and 2,668 repaired homes, reaching 100% of the target. Beneficiaries covered a wide range of vulnerable groups, including families of national contributors, martyrs’ relatives, poor and near-poor households not supported by other national housing schemes, and those impacted by natural disasters and climate change. Provincial leaders stressed that Lang Son, a mountainous border province often hit by floods and landslides, applied careful case-by-case reviews to ensure support reached the right people at the right time, giving priority to households with urgent housing needs. The implementation faced challenges such as difficult terrain, transport of materials during heavy rains, and delays caused by local customs, such as selecting auspicious dates for construction. To overcome these issues, the provincial Party Committee, the steering committee for the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses, and the provincial People’s Committee coordinated closely with agencies, mobilised local communities, and directed public security and military forces, and mass organisations to join hands in construction efforts. Despite the programme’s success, there remained substandard houses after rainy season. Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 damaged 1,256 homes in the province, while recent floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Kajiki earlier this week affected nearly 300 houses. Of the 6,508 homes built or repaired under the programme, 1,470 were impacted by natural disasters and climate change. Lang Son authorities plan to continue reviewing housing needs as part of national target programs on poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. Given limited budgetary resources, the province is calling on enterprises, philanthropists, overseas Vietnamese, and organisations to contribute through the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front to help disadvantaged families secure safe, stable houses./.