(VOVworld) - Toxic chemicals dropped on Vietnam by the US army between 1961 and 1971 had a devastating, long-term effect on people’s health and the environment. More than 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to Agent Orange/ Dioxin and many of them are still suffering physical and mental agonies. To acknowledge the Day for Vietnamese Agent Orange/ Dioxin Victims on August 10, Bui Hang reports on efforts to relieve the suffering.

Students of the Ho Chi Minh University of Economics take care of AO children at Tu Du hospital (source: sggp.org.vn)

Since the war ended, the Party and Government of Vietnam have given much attention to AO/ Dioxin victims. The National Assembly issued an ordinance giving people exposed to the defoliant a monthly allowance of 2 million VND or nearly 100 USD and their children preferential treatment in employment, scholarship money, and exemptions from school fees. In addition to the government policy, social organizations and individuals have also supported AO victims. The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/ Dioxin (VAVA) has raised 8 million USD for victims. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, VAVA’s President, elaborates: “The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/ Dioxin has raised millions of USD to upgrade and build schools and houses, provide scholarships to child victims, create jobs, and pay for medical treatment.    

There have been a number of international campaigns to assist AO/Dioxin victims. Rinh says: “Since 2011, we have received donations in cash and kind worth millions of USD, which is much higher than in previous years. International organizations have donated a lot. The Britain – Vietnam Friendship Society has asked the British Prime Minister and some congressmen to auction autographed books to raise money for Vietnamese AO/ Dioxin victims.” 

Social organizations and individuals have also supported Vietnamese AO/ Dioxin victims in their lawsuit against the American chemical companies who sold the defoliant that the American army sprayed in Vietnam. Rinh says: “The suit has received enormous support from the international community. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers has filed a criminal suit against the American chemical companies. They accuse the American government of conducting chemical warfare and have accused the chemical companies of being accessories in producing the defoliant, saying they must compensate the victims and detoxify the environment.”

Responding to the efforts of VAVA and other campaigns supporting AO/ Dioxin victims, the American government has undertaken activities to address the continuing problems, such as building medical centres for AO/ Dioxin victims and decontaminating toxic land.