(VNF) - About 3,000 people in Hanoi took a walk for Agent Orange/Dioxin victims along streets around My Dinh National Stadium on August 6^th to mark the 56^th anniversary of the Vietnamese Orange Agent Day (August 10^th).

About 3,000 people in Hanoi take a walk for Agent Orange/Dioxin victims on August 6^th to mark the 56^th anniversary of the Vietnamese Orange Agent Day. (Photo: phapluatxahoi.vn)

The event, co-held by the National Charity Club (NCC), the Vietnam Association of Young Scientists and Engineers (VAYSE), and Incom Media, aimed to increase local and international awareness of AO/Dioxin in Vietnam and raise funds for the victims. It also supports the quest for justice for affected people and the prevention of use of mass destruction weapons.

According to NCC Chairman Pham Van Toi, dealing with aftermaths of chemical warfare and providing care and support to the affected people are long-term and pressing issues today. About 70 per cent of families of AO/Dioxin victims are poor, 22 per cent of them have more than 3 victims and 90 per cent of affected people are unemployed, he said.

The walk started at the national stadium, going though Le Duc Tho, Ho Tung Mau, Pham Hung and Nguyen Hoang streets with state employees and students in attendance.

The NCC has organised a series of similar events for AO/Dioxin victims, for example, a cycling event in May and August, 2016 with the participation of nearly 1,000 people, and a Gala Concert in August, 2016 at the National Convention Centre. It also presented the victims with more than 100 gift packages, worth around VND 2 billion (USD 88.000), last year.

Also, on August 5^th, a similar event was organisated in Ho Chi Minh City by Vietnam Red Cross Society’s HCM City chapter, attracting 5,000 people.

About 5,000 people in HCM City takes a walk for Agent Orange/Dioxin and disable victims on August 5^th. (Photo: Tuoi tre News)

In addition, a new centre that will offer rehabilitation and post-surgery care to AO victims will open by the end of the year in HCM City, according to the HCM City Association of Victims of Agent Orange.

The Orange Village, also called the Centre for Care, Support, Nourishment and Treatment, and Vocational Training for Agent Orange Victims, will open in Hoc Mon District.

In Vietnam, around three million people have been affected by Agent Orange. Two million AO victims have severe disease or various forms of disability./.

VNF