Vietnam actively acts for Agent Orange victims

August 10 is Vietnam Agent Orange Victims Day. 62 years after the Agent Orange disaster (1961 - 2023), the Vietnamese Government has always strived to mobilize many domestic resources while combining with the support of the international community to care for and help the victims and their families.

Actively taking action for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. Internet.

On August 10, 62 years ago, the US military began conducting chemical warfare in Vietnam. In just 10 years (1961 - 1971), the US military sprayed 80 million liters of toxic chemicals, of which 61% was Agent Orange, over 1/4 of the natural land area in South Vietnam.

Agent Orange has caused enormous consequences for the people and environment of Vietnam. Many ecosystems have been destroyed and cannot be restored. Many generations of Vietnamese people have suffered physical and mental pain due to Agent Orange exposure. The Vietnamese government has identified overcoming the consequences of Agent Orange on the environment and people as an urgent, long-term issue.

For Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, they receive monthly subsidies, health insurance, or free medical examination and treatment. Hundreds of thousands of severely disabled people, including Agent Orange victims, receive orthopedic and rehabilitation treatment; tens of thousands of disabled children, including children who are indirectly affected by Agent Orange, go to school.

In addition, the Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims at all levels has mobilized resources to help victims repair their houses, detoxify, rehabilitate, provide vocational training, provide loans for production, donate wheelchairs, rocking chairs, etc., along with many projects to build social protection centers. Nationwide, there are 12 Peace Villages, Friendship Villages and many centers for nurturing children with disabilities, nurturing thousands of victims, mainly children with deformities and disabilities due to the effects of Agent Orange.  

Care and assistance for Agent Orange victims is more sustainable when focusing on supporting construction, home repair, sauna, detoxification, etc.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Month of Action for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in 2023 (August 1, in Hanoi), Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization Bui Thi Minh Hoai said: Vietnam has issued many policies to address the consequences of Agent Orange. The State allocates a budget of tens of thousands of billions of VND/year to subsidize, provide health care, and rehabilitate victims; and support areas with special difficulties due to the severe impact of Agent Orange. The movement of action for victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (June 2011) has received the support of all classes of people, attracting the attention of compatriots at home and abroad as well as international friends, contributing to helping victims reduce difficulties, gradually stabilize their lives, and integrate into the community.

In its efforts to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange, Vietnam has received support and assistance from international friends. The World Peace Council (WPC) Executive Committee meeting in Damas, Syria, in October 2009 decided to make August 10th of each year the Day for Vietnamese Agent Orange Victims. From 2004 to 2009, the International Association of Democratic Jurists (IADJ) organized the International Court of Public Opinion to try 37 American chemical companies for supplying toxic chemicals to the US military for use in the war in Vietnam.  

Walking with victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Photo: Internet.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides funding to implement a project to treat dioxin-contaminated soil at Phu Cat airport (Binh Dinh) and equip Vietnam with a dioxin analysis laboratory.... Many foreign organizations and individuals have also come to Vietnam to train in steam baths and dioxin detoxification for victims. Toxicologist Mark Antony Castro shared: The training process with activities for victims affected by Agent Orange has been upgraded compared to before. At the training courses, he and his team directly exchanged knowledge with medical staff on how to operate the steam bath process according to the correct standards. From there, they will understand better, apply it more effectively, and grasp the information better to handle the shortcomings and problems of each victim at the Vietnam Center for Social Protection of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims to have the most effective treatment regimen.

On the US side, the US government has coordinated with Vietnam to complete the detoxification program at Da Nang Airport (treating 90,000 m³ of contaminated soil); detoxifying nearly 30,000 m2 of Bien Hoa airport land; implementing projects to support people with disabilities, including Agent Orange victims, in many provinces, such as: Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam...

Vietnam has about 5 million people infected with Agent Orange/dioxin. Supportive actions from the government, the domestic community as well as international friends have been and are contributing to making their material and spiritual lives less difficult. The Vietnamese government always determines the work   Overcoming the consequences of Agent Orange is an urgent, long-term issue./ .

Thu Hang