Between 1961 and 1971, the U.S. Army sprayed some 80 million liters of Agent Orange (AO), a bitter legacy of the war, over 30,000 square miles of southern Viet Nam.

Mr To Nam, the DAVA Chairman, presenting gifts and cash to AO victims at a recent event

Dioxin, a highly toxic chemical in the defoliant, stays in the soil and at the bottom of lakes and rivers for generations. It can enter the food supply through the meat of fish and other animals, and has been found at alarmingly high levels in breast milk.

According to the Viet Nam Red Cross, between 2.1 to 4.8 million Vietnamese citizens were directly exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals that have been linked to cancers, birth defects and other chronic diseases during the Viet Nam War that ended in April 1975.

The Viet Nam Association of AO Victims believes there are tens of thousands of third-generation victims of dioxin in Viet Nam, but none of them have been officially recognized, and thus are not entitled to support.

In Da Nang, there are a total of more than 5,000 AO victims, around 1,400 of whom are disabled children.

Over recent years, the all-level city authorities have actively been involved in appealing for more domestic and foreign donations to help these disadvantaged people in a bid to relieve their mental and physical pain.

To date, the Da Nang Association of Agent Orange Victims (DAVA) has established its chapters in all districts and wards across the city, with a total membership of 3,000, including many foreign honorary members.

Thanks to the chapters’ good performances, thousands of AO victims across the city have accessed a great deal of material and spiritual support from the whole community.

Since its inception in 2005, DAVA has collected a total of nearly 100 billion VND from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to help local AO victims.

The Care Centre for AO Victims and Disadvantaged Children under the management of DAVA has offered care and vocational training to a sum of 120 AO victims with difficult circumstances.

The city now has 3 shelters for AO-affected victims under the management of DAVA.  One is in Thanh Khe District’s Thanh Khe Tay Ward, the second is in Hai Chau District, whilst the third is in Hoa Vang District's Hoa Nhon Commune.

Together the 3 venues offer extensive care plus physical and mental rehabilitation for over 220 AO-affected children. In addition, simple vocational training courses are also offered in order to help them find suitable jobs matching their capabilities and health conditions. 

Besides, the Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centre for AO/dioxin victims under the control of DAVA, which officially opened in 2014, has seen numerous positive results in helping the victims improve their health.

To date, detoxification and rehabilitation services have been offered to hundreds of local AO-affected people, and very poor victims have received free-of-charge services.

Over the past 13 years, at Tet, on other special occasions, including the annual anniversary of the National Day for AO Victims (10 August), DAVA has presented gifts worth 18 billion VND in total to more than 45,000 AO victims.

In addition, 4.5 billion VND went to help poor AO victims repair their deteriorated houses or build new ones, and 13 billion VND was spent on providing needy ones with healthcare services and suitable means of livelihood to help them increase their incomes.

In fact, DAVA’s great support has considerably inspired many local AO to make their ceaseless efforts to overcome their difficulties and destinies to become useful citizens.