(VNF) - On Jan 9, in Hanoi, State Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh held a meeting with representatives from the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) and 120 enterprises with remarkable contribution to the Association as well as inpidual victims.

In the ceremony, the Vice President acknowledged significant contributions made by VAVA and the enterprise community to support agent orange/dioxins victims. She noted that during the last 12 years, VAVA and enterprises have dedicated numerous efforts in raising funds, connecting victims with the sponsors, advocating the lawsuit against US dioxin-manufacturers and suppliers. Besides, they actively join hands to ease the pains of the victims by offering health care and social services, help restoring eco-systems contaminated by Agent Orange/dioxin, etc.

A father holding his AO/dioxin affected son (source: VOV5)

During over 10 years, from 1961 to 1971, more than 80 million litres of herbicides containing nearly 370kg of dioxin were sprayed across southern Vietnam by the US troops. The war “died” over 40 years ago but the “ghost” keeps haunting the third, even fourth generations in Vietnam. 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to toxic chemicals. Mental disorder, physical deformities, cancers, birth defects, miscarriage, etc are only part of the horrifying consequences./.

( Phi Yen )