Support for the "forest dwellers" father and son to stabilize their lives.

To provide timely assistance to Mr. Ho Van Thanh and his son Ho Van Lang after 40 years of living in isolation in the deep forest, on August 12th, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Ngai province visited and donated 5 million VND; the Tay Tra District Party Committee also donated 1 million VND to help Mr. Thanh and his son cover some of their immediate living expenses.



The Quang Ngai delegation visited and presented gifts to Mr. Thanh and his son at the Tay Tra District Medical Center. Photo: Thanh Long - VNA.

The Provincial Front's poverty alleviation fund also donated 40 million VND; the local government provided 44 million VND to build a house for Mr. Thanh and his son. The house will be built in Tra Phong commune for Mr. Thanh, his son Lang, and their youngest son, Ho Van Tri, to live in. The house is expected to be completed before this year's rainy season.

Currently, Mr. Thanh and his son are receiving financial assistance from the local authorities for accommodation and necessary procedures such as birth certificates, identity cards, household registration, and insurance. Mr. Ho Van Thanh is still receiving treatment at Tay Tra District Hospital, and his health has stabilized. Although Lang still misses the mountains and forests, he has begun to adapt to his new life with the encouragement of the local people.

Mr. Truong Ngoc Dong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tra Phong commune, said that he has assigned people to be on duty 24/7 to encourage, help, and talk to Mr. Lang. Currently, Lang remains silent when many strangers come to visit, but he has been able to say a few sentences when only family members are by his side.

According to information from the People's Committee of Tay Tra District, Mr. Ho Van Thanh (born in 1932) was originally from Tra Linh village, Tra Lanh commune, Tay Tra district. During the war against the US, he moved to live in Tra Kem village, Tra Xinh commune and joined the army of Military Region V.

While he was serving in the army, his house was hit by American bombs, his two eldest children died, and his wife later moved to Tra Khe commune, Tay Tra district. Around 1973, he moved back to Tra Khe commune but lived there for a short time before developing a mental illness. In 1974, he took his youngest child, Ho Van Lang (born in 1969), and left the area to live in the deep forest of the Apon mountain region, Tra Xinh commune.

Currently, relatives, neighbors, and local authorities are wholeheartedly caring for and supporting Mr. Thanh and his son to help them reintegrate into the community as soon as possible.

According to VNA - TH