A large meeting was held at the Hanoi Opera House on August 10 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the day when Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin was first sprayed by US troops in Vietnam (August 10, 1961).

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan and representatives from ministries, sectors, domestic and foreign organisations attended the event.

Vice President Doan said the toxic AO/dioxin used by the US army during the war in Vietnam dispossessed millions of Vietnamese people of the right to a normal, healthy life. Many of them were afflicted with disabilities and their offspring suffered inborn deformities.

For many years, the Party, State as well as people in the country and overseas gave spiritual and material support to help AO victims and their families. However, the lives of Vietnamese AO victims were still difficult due to ongoing sicknesses and many families faced the risk of extinction.

Vice President Doan called on people and soldiers across the country to join hands to contribute to reducing the pain of AO victims and help improve their living conditions.

She also urged the US government to take responsibility for losses to the people and environment of Vietnam .

While praising the US government’s recent initial cooperative steps, Vice President Doan expressed her wish that it would cooperate more closely with the Vietnamese Government and people in overcoming the consequences of AO/dioxin, assist with the care of AO victims and detoxify locations which have the highest dioxin residues in Vietnam .

The Vice President called on organisations and individuals all over the world to give more support to Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims during their daily lives and in their struggle for justice.

Vice President Doan affirmed that support and assistance from international friends are not only for Vietnamese AO victims, but also for AO victims in other countries in the world.

Doan took this occasion to call on all people to unite together in the fight against AO/dioxin – and every chemical and biological weapon – for perpetual peace and justice.

President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange /dioxin (VAVA) Nguyen Van Rinh said that many prestigious scientists in toxicology, medicine, chemistry, environment and legislature shared their experience with VAVA and supported many projects to help overcome the consequences of AO/dioxin in Vietnam .

Rinh also said that support from the entire society and progressive and peace-loving people in the world are a great encouragement to help the AO victims to overcome their complex difficulties and integrate them into the community.

The lawsuit of Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims was recently rejected by the US court, but garnered an important social and humane victory. It initially influenced the US legislative and executive sectors, which was manifested through recent actions of the US government and parliament on solving the aftermath of AO/dioxin in Vietnam , he said./.