The Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin has raised over 2.7 billion VND (128,000 USD) to help AO victims in the city since 2011.
At the ceremony to commemorate the 51 st year since AO/dioxin began to be sprayed over Vietnam on Aug. 5, the association has called on organisations and businesses at home and abroad to continue sharing losses and pains with AO victims across the country.
On the occasion, it also honoured 10 outstanding individuals who overcome challenges in lives and donated 102 gifts worth over 127 million VND (60,400 USD) to people living with special difficulties.
According to preliminary statistics, HCM City now has 20,000 people who were exposed to AO/dioxin.
The city plans to kick off construction of a centre to provide care, treatment, vocational training and rehabilitation for AO/dioxin victims in Xuan Thoi Thuong commune, Hoc Mon district, in the fourth quarter of this year.-VNA