A day for gratitude and justice.

August 10th each year – the "Day for Victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam" – is not only a milestone to remember a painful chapter in the nation's history, but also a warning to the whole world: that war never ends on the battlefield, and its consequences do not remain only in memory.

American planes dropped Agent Orange/dioxin on South Vietnam.

On August 10, 1961, the U.S. military began its campaign of spraying chemical agents over South Vietnam. Over a decade, more than 80 million liters of chemical agents, mostly Agent Orange containing dioxin – one of the most toxic compounds ever known – were used. The result was the destruction of millions of hectares of forest, the contamination of thousands of agricultural lands, and most importantly: the loss of millions of human lives.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, approximately 4.8 million people were exposed to Agent Orange, of which more than 3 million are direct victims. They not only endure physical pain but also face poverty and loss of opportunities in life. The suffering doesn't stop with the first generation but is passed down through generations – making Agent Orange a "silent battle" that continues to this day.

Victims of Agent Orange – mostly poor, disabled, and elderly – are currently living in extremely difficult circumstances. Many suffer from severe disabilities, are unable to work, and are completely dependent on their families or social assistance. Some families have two or three generations who are victims of Agent Orange. They live in the shadow of illness, poverty, and stigma – a heartbreaking reality that cannot be ignored.

These war scars are not just a matter of the past, but a lasting burden of the present and future. And that pain does not belong solely to Vietnam, but is also a moral, legal, and humanitarian responsibility of the entire world .

To date, more than 60 years have passed since Agent Orange was sprayed over Vietnam. However, while many American veterans exposed to Agent Orange have received compensation from the government and the chemical companies that produced the toxic substance, Vietnamese victims – those most severely affected – have yet to receive a commensurate verdict of justice.

Many lawsuits initiated by Vietnam and international human rights organizations have been dismissed, citing "legitimate wartime military action"—a cold and inhumane argument that denies the right to life and the right to protection from pain and disfigurement to millions of innocent people.

The truth is: No legal justification can justify the systematic use of toxic chemicals that devastate the environment and harm human health. The lack of adequate compensation for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims is not only a failure of the international justice system, but also an unhealed wound in the heart of humanity.

Over the years, the Party and State of Vietnam have implemented numerous policies to support Agent Orange victims: from social assistance, healthcare, and rehabilitation to education, vocational training, and livelihood support. The Vietnam Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, along with hundreds of charitable organizations both domestically and internationally, have continuously joined hands to help the victims.

However, support from domestic resources remains limited compared to actual needs. More than ever, a stronger involvement from the international community is needed: not only through charitable actions, but also by speaking out, exerting pressure, and promoting legal processes to ensure that Vietnamese victims receive fair compensation.

Human rights organizations, international legal institutions, and companies involved in the production of toxic chemicals need to acknowledge their moral and legal responsibilities. Refusing to recognize Vietnamese victims as genuine victims is an insult to their dignity and human rights.

August 10th is not just a day of remembrance. It is an occasion to remind each of us – from ordinary citizens to policymakers, from social organizations to businesses – that the lives of millions of people are still affected by the lingering effects of war.

No one chooses to be born into pain. But each of us can choose to live in a way that gives hope to those less fortunate. Every action, however small – a gift, a good deed, a scholarship, a voice speaking out against injustice – is a step on the path of justice and humanity.

From this day forward, we need to cultivate a spirit of responsibility: never forgetting history, never forgetting the sacrifices, and especially, never leaving anyone—particularly those who suffered the consequences of war—behind.

Chemical warfare is one of the most inhumane forms of warfare ever created by humankind. The consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam are the clearest evidence of this. It reminds all of humanity that any military decision that harms civilians and the environment is a crime.

The world is witnessing many new conflicts where modern weapons can destroy life in an instant. If we do not learn from the past, if we do not listen to the voices of Agent Orange victims, humanity risks repeating the mistake – this time not only in Vietnam, but anywhere on earth.

The "Day for Victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam" is not only a day to show gratitude and share, but also a day to remind people of their conscience. It is a day when justice must prevail. It is a day when the world must seriously acknowledge the consequences of war. And every Vietnamese person needs to ask themselves: What have I done to ensure that those who bear the pain of Agent Orange can live more meaningful lives?

Because justice cannot wait forever. And humanity should not be just a slogan.

Duc Anh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/ngay-cho-tri-an-va-cong-ly-a200259.html