Over the past 20 years, the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has mobilized nearly VND221 billion from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to care for and help a total of about 103,000 Agent Orange victims through the following forms such as home repairs, livelihood support, regular support, scholarships, wheelchairs, and emergency assistance.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi (left) presents the emulation flag of the Da Nang People's Committee to the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. Photo: L.P

This figure was officially released by the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at the 20^th anniversary of the association (January 22, 2005 - January 22, 2025) held on Saturday.

Major General Do Hong Lam, Permanent Vice President of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, attended the event.

On the Da Nang side, there were Head of the Da Nang Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee Tran Thang Loi, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Tran Thi Man.

On January 5, 2005, the Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee issued Decision No. 05/QD-UB on allowing the establishment of the municipal Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. On January 22, 2005, the association held its first congress, officially launching the municipal Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Since its establishment, the association has always been consistent in its principles and purposes: participating in overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals; protecting the rights and legitimate interests of its members; educating, motivating and creating all conditions to help victims of Agent Orange and their families overcome difficulties and effectively integrate into the community.

The city leaders present flowers to congratulate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. Photo: L.P

At the same time, this agency has mobilised as many resources as possible from society, organisations and individuals at home and abroad to care for and help victims of Agent Orange, and contributed to the fight for justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

After 20 years of development, the association now has more than 3,000 members and 65 foreign volunteers. People's diplomacy is increasingly developing and hundreds of delegations of foreign organisations and individuals have visited and given gifts to Agent Orange victims in the city. In 2024 alone, the association welcomed 23 organisations and more than 400 foreigners.

Over the past 20 years, the association has mobilised nearly VND221 billion from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to care for and help nearly 103,000 victims of Agent Orange, built the Center for Supporting Agent Orange Victims and Unfortunate Children and provided regular boarding care for 90 disabled children, highly appreciated by Unicef.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi acknowledged and praised the great contributions made by the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the past time contributing to the city's social welfare work.

Da Nang aims to become a large, ecological and smart urban area by 2045, a center for startups, innovation and a livable coastal city of Asian stature. In order to achieve that goal, social organisations in general, and the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in particular, need to continue to improve the effectiveness of mobilizing resources for supporting Agent Orange victims.

The Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee requested that all levels of the association should strengthen people-to-people diplomacy, create conditions for domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to have a deeper understanding of the impacts of the Agent Orange disaster on the Vietnamese people; protect the legitimate rights and interests of Agent Orange victims, and join hands to support them.

Head of the Da Nang Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission Tran Thang Loi (5th from left) presents certificates of merit of the Da Nang People's Committee to units with outstanding achievements in implementing the emulation movement ‘Joining hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange’ in the 2005 - 2025 period. Photo: L.P

Also, the association needs to promote more effectively the programme ‘Joining hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange’, the programme ‘Tet for the poor and Agent Orange victims’ and other mobilization methods to care for, help, and contribute to bringing more joy to Agent Orange victims.

At the programme, the association received donations from organisations: the Green Cross Switzerland with over VND 2.2 billion, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training VND200 million, the Da Nang Charity and Children's Rights Protection Association VND15 million; Pho Quang Pagoda in Son Tra District VND35 million; Quang Army Construction and Interior Architecture Company Limited VND30 million. These financial aids will be used to help Agent Orange victims citywide.

On this occasion, the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin presented the ‘For Victims of Agent Orange’ medals to 10 individuals and presented certificates of merit to 3 groups and 5 individuals in recognition for their outstanding achievements in caring for and helping Agent Orange victims.

The Da Nang People's Committee presented the emulation flag to the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, presented certificates of merit to 20 groups and 15 individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing the emulation movement ‘Joining hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange’ in the 2005 - 2025 period, including the Da Nang Newspaper.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG  - Translating by A.THU