Day for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (August 10):

Although the war ended more than half a century ago, the effects of Agent Orange/dioxin are still leaving behind severe consequences.

In the journey to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange, besides the resilience and efforts of the Agent Orange victims, the collective support and sharing from the community is a tremendous source of strength, helping them to have better lives and confidently integrate into society.

The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin presents gifts to Agent Orange victims at a fundraising event for the Vietnam Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims Fund. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Never surrender to fate.

Among the exemplary figures of resilience and community integration among victims of Agent Orange, the story of Nay Djruêng (Ji A hamlet, Ia Dreh commune, Gia Lai province) and his "Going Through the Farming Season" volunteer journey is always inspiring.

Due to the lingering effects of Agent Orange from his father, a guerrilla fighter during the war against the US, Nay Djruêng was born without hands and feet. Overcoming all difficulties and hardships, Nay Djruêng enrolled in information technology studies in Da Nang and later worked in Ho Chi Minh City. Although his personal income is only 3 to 5 million VND per month, the "Going Through the Farming Season" fund, founded by Nay Djruêng more than 10 years ago, continues to be maintained, mobilizing resources to provide scholarships to poor students in his hometown every school year. In the past 10 years (2014-2024), the "Going Through the Farming Season" fund has provided scholarships and gifts totaling approximately 150 million VND to poor students in the schools he attended in his hometown.

Or consider the story of veteran Hoang Van Khoi (Mau Lam commune, Thanh Hoa province). Returning home after his military service, he was shocked to discover he had been exposed to Agent Orange only after his son was born with a congenital defect. Overcoming adversity, he and his wife sold their wooden house, leased 3,000 square meters of hillside forest land to plant trees, raise bees, and build a new home for their family with unwavering determination and the resilience of a soldier of Uncle Ho's army.

Cases like Nay Djruêng and veteran Hoàng Văn Khôi have received support from the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at all levels and local authorities, both in terms of material assistance and policy benefits. “Even with lifelong disabilities, many Agent Orange victims, with their strong desire to live and the shared support of the community, do not surrender to fate. And it is the responsibility of each of us to work together to support them in proactively developing their livelihoods and confidently integrating into the community,” affirmed Lieutenant General Nguyễn Hữu Chính, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Mobilize resources both domestically and internationally.

Currently, millions of victims of Agent Orange remain nationwide, including over 626,000 who receive benefits as "resistance fighters and children affected by chemical toxins." Many families have 3 to 4 Agent Orange victims, and their lives are still fraught with difficulties.

With the motto "Wherever there are victims, there is an association," and the determination to ensure that no victims of Agent Orange are left behind, for over 20 years, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has consistently strived to alleviate the suffering caused by Agent Orange. The Association at all levels regularly receives attention from the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and local Party committees and authorities.

In 2024 and the first six months of 2025, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin nationwide mobilized and received support and assistance from numerous organizations, businesses, and philanthropists both domestically and internationally, with a total monetary value exceeding 773 billion VND. Notable contributors included units and businesses of the Ministry of National Defense; the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank; the Belgian House of Representatives and many organizations in the Kingdom of Belgium through the Aquitara Fund; Ms. Masako Sakata (Japanese), Director of the "Seeds of Hope" Fund; Ao Vua Joint Stock Company; and many other collectives and individuals. "The care and support of the community is the 'light' of humanity, compassion, and responsibility, contributing to alleviating the pain of Agent Orange, overcoming the consequences of chemical toxins left behind after the war, kindling hope, and opening a path to rebirth for those unfortunate souls," Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh emphasized.

Recently, at the art exchange program "Following the Dawn" with the theme "Livelihood - Integration," organized by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in coordination with the Office of the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee 701 and the Military Radio and Television Center to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 - August 10, 2025) and the Day for Victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam (August 10), the Organizing Committee initially received support from the community worth 2.5 billion VND to implement livelihood models and support Agent Orange victims to have better lives and opportunities to confidently integrate into the community.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh stated that the funds donated to the Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims Fund are used to support livelihoods, build and repair houses, provide rehabilitation, and give gifts to Agent Orange victims during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year)... This demonstrates the profound concern and sharing of the community, contributing to helping Agent Orange victims gradually improve their lives and achieve stability.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ngay-vi-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-dioxin-10-8-chung-tay-xoa-diu-noi-dau-712064.html