Many international organisations said in letters to the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) on the occasion of “For AO Victims Day 2009” (August 10) that they will stand side by side with the association’s struggle for justice.

“You are not alone, we are with you and will be with you until justice is won and beyond,” Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society Len Aldis wrote in the letter sent to VAVA.

National President of Veterans For Peace Mike Ferner spoke highly of VAVA’s extraordinary work and pledged in his message to VAVA to continue working with the association for justice for all AO victims.

Meanwhile, the US-based Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign (VAORRA) reaffirmed its partnership with VAVA in achieving justice and compensation for AO victims.

According to VAORRA Co-coordinator Merle Ratner, VAORRA will commemorate Orange Day 2009 in the US by conducting educational activities aimed at raising the awareness of the American people of the urgent needs of Vietnamese AO victims and the responsibility of the US government and chemical companies.

On the occasion, VAVA is working with Vietnam Television to mark the event through a live broadcast on over 60 local television stations nationwide and on 15 international television channels.

Statistics released by VAVA show that around 4.8 million Vietnamese people have been exposed to AO/dioxin, of whom over 3 million have been confirmed as being affected by the toxic chemical./.