As many as 8 billion VND was raised in the sixth programme “Justice & Heart” in Hanoi on August 8 for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, the toxic chemical sprayed by the US troops during the Vietnam War.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan hailed AO victims for making great efforts to defeat AO-born diseases to integrate into the community and contribute to social development.

The programme was attended by those people who went to the US for the US House of Representatives’ hearing on AO in Vietnam and for a journey seeking justice in seven cities in July in the country.

Of them was Dr Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, Vietnam ’s leading medical expert and researcher on the affects of AO on the health of the Vietnamese people and Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange /dioxin (VAVA).

At the hearing, Dr. Phuong voiced the need to focus on decontaminating 28 ‘AO hotspots’, raised difficulties that AO victims are struggling, and called on the US to take responsibility in helping Vietnamese AO victims.

She noted that US authorities had positive changes regarding AO issue in Vietnam , accepted the issue as real and showed willingness to solve its consequences.

The presence at the hearing of live AO victim Tran Thi Hoan from Ho Chi Minh City , who also attended the programme, touched the hearts of US authorities and people and reflected AO victims’ courageousness to live and win justice for them, Dr. Phuong said.

Nguyen Thi Hien, President of the Da Nang Association of Victims of Agent Orange and Pham The Minh, AO victim, had 51 meetings and talks on AO with American people in seven cities across the US during a month.

The same day, more than 10,000 people in Ho Chi Minh City joined in a walk for AO victims and poor people launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee.

On the occasion, the red cross societies of 30 cities and provinces nationwide raised 30 billion VND for AO victims and poor disabled people.

The organising board of the walk handed over 150 scholarships to poor students and 100 wheel-chairs to AO victims and poor people with disabilities.

In the month of action for “AO victims and poor people with disabilities” from August 10-September 10, the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee expects to raise 60 billion VND for those disadvantaged people./.