(VNF) - The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) held a campaign raising donations for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims through SMS, which runs from February 27^th to April 28^th.

By texting ‘DACAM’ to 1409, an inpidual can donate VND 18,000 (USD 0.8) to the victims of chemical – warfare.

The press conference on launching a charitable texting programme to support victims of AO/dioxin on February 27^th. (Source: VNF)

First held six years ago, the campaign has mobilized more than VND 18 billion (USD 790,020), including over VND 4.2 billion (USD 184,300) in 2016, according to VAVA President Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Rinh.

The donated money has been distributed to VAVA sub-organisations at localities to construct rehabilitation centres for AO victims and support the lives of those living in difficult circumstances.

In March 2016, the VAVA inaugurated a centre providing social protection, caring, rehabilitation, education and vocational training to AO victims in Yen Binh Commune, Thach That District in Hanoi.

Especially, this year’s programme saw the invitation of singers Tuan Hung and 2016 Vietnam Miss Do My Linh as Charity Ambassadors.

Nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to dioxin and around 3 million suffer from health problems today. (Photo: Christophe Calais/Corbis)

From 1961 to 1971, U.S. troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides — 44 million litres of which were AO, containing nearly 370kg of dioxin — on Southern Vietnam.

As a result, about 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the AO/dioxin effects./.

Translated by Minh Phuong