Vigneux-sur-Seine Mayor Serge Poinsot presents gift to Ambassador Dang Giang (Source: VNA) A Vietnam Day was recently held in France’s Essonne province to raise funds for Vietnamese Agent Orange /Dioxin (AO) victims living at Van Canh Village in Hanoi.
The get-together began with the screening of a moving film on the AO community’s ordeal after the war.
At the event, Raphael Vahe, President of the French Friendship Committee for Van Canh Peace Village, recalled the process to build the Van Canh village – a care centre for AO victims in Hanoi’s Hoai Duc suburban district – which he said is a symbol of cooperation to address war aftermath.
He also announced that a therapy swimming pool to treat village children and veterans has been put into use.
France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) Chairman Daviot Gerard said his organisation has taken part in a range of charitable activities to help the needy and AO victims across Vietnam.
Participants agreed that raising international awareness on the post-war pain can trigger larger humanitarian response. They all supported Vietnamese-French AO victim Tran To Nga in her lawsuit filed in France against 26 US chemical companies which produced the AO used by the US troops during the war.
Publications on Vietnam, Vietnam’s handicraft products were sold during the day with all proceeds going to assist Van Canh villagers.-VNA
