The whole society joins hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange

Pain that lasts through generations

During the war of aggression against Vietnam, the US imperialists not only used a huge amount of bombs and weapons causing casualties, but also used toxic chemicals on a large scale to destroy the livelihoods of the Vietnamese people and prevent the progress of the revolutionary armed forces. At that time, South Vietnam became a "war laboratory", where the US imperialists researched and brutally tested various types of toxic chemicals.

On August 10, 1961, the US military first used H-34 aircraft to spray toxic chemicals along Highway 14 from Kon Tum town to Dak To (Kon Tum), opening the 10-year chemical warfare in South Vietnam. From 1961 to 1971, the US military conducted a total of 19,905 missions, spraying about 80 million liters of toxic chemicals, of which 61% was Agent Orange, containing 366 kg of dioxin, over 3.06 million hectares of land (nearly 25% of the total area of ​​South Vietnam, 17 times higher than the permitted density for use in US agriculture ). Of which, 86% of the area was sprayed more than twice, 11% of the area was sprayed more than 10 times.

The spraying of huge amounts of toxic chemicals repeatedly over a long period of time has had serious consequences for the environment and natural ecosystems in Vietnam. Many areas of land were heavily polluted, disrupting ecosystems and forests losing important functions such as water retention and flood control. Biodiversity was severely reduced. Many rare species of animals and plants became extinct, while rodents and weeds thrived. The mangrove forest system in the South, especially in Sac Forest (now in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City) and in Nam Can District, Ca Mau, was severely destroyed, reducing the role of mangrove forests in land retention and sea encroachment.

In addition to the natural consequences, Agent Orange/dioxin also destroys human health. On February 20, 2008, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 09/2008/QD-BYT promulgating a list of 17 diseases, disabilities, deformities, and malformations related to exposure to the toxic chemical dioxin, including: cancers; multiple myeloma; reproductive abnormalities; birth defects; mental disorders... In addition, domestic and foreign scientific studies have proven that Agent Orange/dioxin used during the Vietnam War is related to cancer, diabetes, and cases of fetal malformations, leaving consequences for future generations.

According to incomplete statistics, Agent Orange/dioxin has exposed 4.8 million Vietnamese people, more than 3 million of whom are victims (they are people exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin; suffer from illness, reduced ability to work, infertility or have children with deformities...). Hundreds of thousands of victims have died, hundreds of thousands of people are struggling with serious illnesses such as complete or partial paralysis, blindness, deafness, mental retardation, cancer, deformities, congenital malformations...

More dangerously, Agent Orange/dioxin can be passed down through generations, and in Vietnam, the consequences of Agent Orange have been passed down to the fourth generation. According to data from the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in 2022, the whole country has about 150,000 victims of the second generation (children), 35,000 victims of the third generation (grandchildren) and about 6,000 victims of the fourth generation (great-grandchildren). A survey in some southern provinces showed that up to 23.7% of the people surveyed had 1-3 disabled children; 5.7% had disabled grandchildren. The cancer rate is 14.9%, mostly in the group of victims over 50 years old. Many families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims in our country have 4-5 or more exposed people.

It can be seen that the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin have been causing serious damage to the health of the victims. Especially in the tragic circumstances when the parents of the victims pass away, leaving behind children with disabilities and deformities who have no one to raise or care for them. Not to mention, the material and spiritual life of most victims of Agent Orange/dioxin has to face countless difficulties, especially in families with many victims, many generations of victims.

They are people who suffer from illness, physical pain, mental deprivation, cannot work like normal people, have completely lost the ability to work, and are even unable to control their own actions... and have to depend on their relatives or the community. Therefore, poverty and suffering persist, causing many families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims to be in a vicious cycle of poverty, illness, and despair.

Rehabilitation for Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri. (Photo: Anh Tuan/VNA)

Action for Agent Orange pain

Looking at the physical and mental pain of the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, it is not only the pain of each individual, but also the common pain of the whole society. Therefore, in the face of the pain of Agent Orange that has never subsided, alleviating it is not only a matter of charity and humanity, but first of all, an activity of "Repaying gratitude" to those who have contributed to the country, demonstrating the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source". It is also the conscience and responsibility of every Vietnamese person, so that from there, we can join hands to do a better job of caring for and helping victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, giving them more aspirations and will to rise up in life.

Understanding the pain of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and their families, the Party and State have issued many directives of political, economic and social significance, with profound humanitarian and humane nature, related to resolving the regime and policies for people with revolutionary contributions in general, and resistance fighters infected with Agent Orange/dioxin in particular. Every year, the State spends about 10,000 billion VND to subsidize, provide health care, and rehabilitate victims, and support particularly disadvantaged areas severely affected by this toxic substance.

More than 320,000 people who participated in the resistance war and their children who were exposed to toxic chemicals enjoyed preferential policies for those who contributed to the revolution. Households of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin enjoyed health insurance, free medical examination and treatment. Hundreds of thousands of people with severe disabilities, including victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, received orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Tens of thousands of children with disabilities, including children who suffered indirect consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin, attended integrated and specialized schools.

In addition, the active activities of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin from the Central level to 63 provinces and cities have made an important contribution to caring for and supporting the lives of victims across the country. In some localities, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin closely coordinates with agencies, units, and philanthropists to organize activities to mobilize resources to make the care and assistance for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin practical, suitable to actual needs, and sustainable.

Finally, we cannot fail to mention the meaningful companionship of charitable organizations and kind-hearted people across the country. It is the timely support and sincere encouragement that have given strength to those who are facing the pain of Agent Orange every day, giving them more faith and will to overcome their fate. More preciously, there are more and more young Vietnamese people who care, understand and share the pain of Agent Orange. The young generation does not only stop at sympathizing with their hearts but also acts with practical actions, such as: participating in propaganda campaigns, fundraising campaigns, organizing visits, giving gifts, etc.

Although we know that the pain of Agent Orange with its loss of health, spirit, life... is something that cannot be compensated. However, with unity, we can completely ease that pain. When the whole society joins hands, the pain will be lessened, hope will be kindled and the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin who have suffered will have more opportunities to live more fully and peacefully in the loving arms of the community.

Tue Anh

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ca-xa-hoi-chung-tay-xoa-diu-noi-dau-da-cam-post546651.html