The war has receded for now, but generations of Viet Nam, including children, still suffer the consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/ Dioxin. They were born decades after American forces had sprayed the herbicide dioxin Agent Orange in South Viet Nam, but some children living in the country today continue to suffer from the horrifying effects of the chemical. Especially, Agent Orange exposure has led to long-term health effects in Vietnamese victims. As many as 4.8 million Vietnamese people have been exposed to AO, and more than 3 million others who are their second, third, and even fourth generations are suffering from the devastating effects of this chemical. Many died, and the surviving victims are still struggling with serious diseases. Many victims live in a tragic situation and feel desperate because of their dioxin-associated illness. Therefore, every person has conscience and moral obligation to join efforts to ease the pain of AO victims.

Mr. To Nam, the Chairman of the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, presented gifts to the victims on the occasion of the 2023 Lunar New Year.

A total of more than 5,000 people in Da Nang have been classified as suspected victims of AO, including 1,400 children, 2,476 war veterans, 815 others who are the descendants of exposed veterans, plus more than 13,078 people classified as suspected victims of toxic chemical exposure. Most of victim families are living under very difficult circumstances, and they are in need of material and spiritual support to make their lives better. In addition, many poor victim families are in dire need of support from the whole society.

Viet Nam’s national government has issued many preferential policies to support exposed veterans and their descendants. Furthermore, many organizations and individuals at home and abroad have done practical work to join efforts to alleviate the pain and suffering of victims of AO.

Over recent years, the Da Nang Association of victims of Agent Orange has received great care from national and municipal governments, organizations at all levels, relevant agencies, and international organizations to provide practical support for the victims on public holidays, Lunar New Year, and the Day for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims (August 10).

Besides, the Da Nang Association of victims of Agent Orange has connected with many domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to help the victims. Following approval by the Party Central Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation, the Association has launched an Action Month for Victims of AO which runs from August 1 - 31, 2023.

Recently, the Association has launched awareness-raising campaign on the devastating effects that the toxin has left behind in order to arouse compassion and kindness in the whole society to provide spiritual and material support for the victims in the city. As a result, a combined total of VND 3.7 billion has been raised from organizations and individuals during this campaign.

Since the start of the year, the Association has called on organizations and individuals to give more than 6,111 gifts totaling VND 3.98 billion to the victims, provide regular support for 45 people with an amount of nearly VND 148 million, grant 7 scholarships worth VND 33 million for children of victims of AO, and offer 14 wheelchairs valued at VND 42 million. In addition, the money raised has been used for repairing and upgrading care centers for victims of AO, as well as building incense-making facility for the victims at a total construction cost of more than VND 500 million to help them increase their income, and improve their living conditions.

Especially, the Association has focused on providing care, vocational training, and rehabilitation for 110 victims of Agent Orange with difficult circumstances at their care centers at a total cost of more than VND 750 million. Besides, 17 victims have been provided with detoxification treatment involving saunas.

The importance has been attached to providing livelihood support and medical examination to the victims, and more. Overall, the Association has spent a combined total of VND 5.45 billion to help the victims so far this year. Special attention has also paid to calling for funds to help the victims in efforts to bring more joy and a better life to them.

This year marks 62 years since the beginning of AO/Dioxin warfare in Viet Nam, the longest chemical warfare operation in history (August 10, 1961 - August 10, 2023). The Action Month for Victims of AO aims to arouse our love, compassion, conscience and moral responsibility in order to turn our awareness into concrete and practical actions to help the victims to demonstrate the nation's morality of “Loving others as you love yourself” and "The intact leaves protect tattered ones".

Reporting by TRA THANH LANH – Translating by H.L