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 city authorities have actively become involved in appealing for more domestic and foreign donations to help these victims in a bid to relieve their mental and physical pain, hereby helping them overcome their difficulties and integrate into the community.

Representatives from the Shizuoka Prefecture Association of AO Victims granting scholarships and eye examinations to Da Nang’s AO victims

Since the start of this year, the Da Nang Association of Agent Orange Victims (DAVA) has appealed for financial and material aids worth a total of over 9.9 billion VND from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to help AO victims.

It is noticeable that DAVA has, to date, welcomed more than 55 foreign organisations and 350 foreigners who came to provide support for the victims.

Included were relegations from South Korea-based Changwon University, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Living Water Global Initiative and the Green Organisation.

Of note, UNICEF has signed an agreement on offering an aid package worth 120,000 USD for the 2018 – 2021 period to enhance the quality of day-care services for children with disabilities who are now cared for at the city’s Care Centre for AO Victims and Disadvantaged Children.

Through the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, an US-based organisation donated 22 breeding pigs for the families of AO victims.

Sailing in the same boat, many other foreign organisations committed to donate many valuable assets for DAVA.

Accordingly, a 29-seater vehicle worth 1.2 billion VND, funded by the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam, has put into use to serve the victims.

The US-based Harris Freeman Foundation offered 160 million VND worth of vitamins and minerals for the city’s Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centre which provides AO-affected victims, and others who have been exposed to the toxic defoliants, access to dioxin detoxification and healthcare services for the release of toxins from their bodies and the enhancement of their health.

In addition, the DAVA received 136 million VND and 227 million VND in aids from the VFP Foundation and the Edrington Singapore Pte Ltd, respectively.

Since its inception in 2005, DAVA has collected a total of more than 100 billion VND from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to help AO victims. There are now 57 foreign honorary members of the DAVA, many of whom are from the US.

With his great love and deep sympathy, Mr Matthew Keenan, 68, from the USA, has actively been engaged in giving material and spiritual assistance to AO victims.

Deeply touched by some of the images of AO-affected children with mental disabilities and physical deformities, the kind-hearted US man always keeps in his mind that he must do his part to heal the wounds of war to bring peace to his soul.

During his visit to shelters for AO victims, he always clutched the little kids on his laps and has small chats, plays, dances and teaches simple things for these unfortunate children in a cozy and joyful atmosphere.

Encouragingly, the US veteran has enthusiastically appealed for his friends in his hometown to offer donations for the victims.

In a similar vein, since her admission into DAVA to serve as a honorary volunteer, Ms Nonoyama Nobuyo, 41, from Japan has actively participated in caring for, and teaching AO children about flower arrangement and Japanese embroidery skills, and more.

Also, the Japanese volunteer has continuously appealed for even more donors from her country.

Ms Nonoyama Nobuyo could not hide her emotions and happiness as she has made something meaningful for these unfortunate kids with the hope of making them enjoy better lives.

The foreign honorary members have, over the past years, made great efforts to relieve the mental and physical pain of those affected by AO - a bitter legacy of the war.