Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the War Remnants Museum and met with children affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3, as part of their ongoing state visit to Vietnam.
Mayor Pierre Garzon bestowed the title of "Honorary Citizen of Villejuif," the city's highest honour, upon Tran To Nga, an 82-year-old French-Vietnamese who has fought tirelessly for justice for millions of Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.
The Party and the State have always paid due attention to war invalids, families of martyrs, social policy beneficiaries, and those who rendered great service to the nation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed on July 6.
Vietnam is home to about 75,000 second-generation victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin and 35,000 others of third generation. Some localities even have victims in the fourth generation.
The war has been over for nearly half a century. However, millions of Vietnamese exposed to Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin continue to suffer from its consequences on a daily basis.
Over 1,000 victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in the southern province of Dong Nai received free health checks and consultations from July 1 to 2, at a total cost of over 1 billion VND (43,458 USD).
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on July 18 called for more coordination from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in dealing with consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin.
Vietnam wants the international community to join efforts in dealing with war consequences, helping the country develop sustainably and participate in UN peacekeeping operations more actively.
Efforts to deal with consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin should focus on environmental improvement and long-term support for AO victims along with dioxin remediation activities, heard a seminar held at the European Parliament (EP)’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on November 28.
The Vietnam Friendship Village, set up 20 years ago, has contributed to ease the pain for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims by giving nursing services and vocational training to AO-infected veterans and children.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan has agreed to expand the Republic of Korea’s microbiological method to detoxify soil contaminated with Agent Orange/dioxin in A Luoi district in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
Nearly 100 outstanding students afflicted with Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin from Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Nam Dinh and Hai Phong have received gift packages and scholarships at the recent “Spring for Children” programme 2018.
US Ambassador Ted Osius told Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh that he will make every effort to promote cooperation between Vietnam and the US in addressing post-war consequences.
More than 200 cyclists raced in the first Da Nang Cycling Open-Asanzo Cup in the central city of Da Nang to raise funds for victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin on July 30.
Vietnamese expatriates in France joined locals in a march on May 1 to call for support for Vietnamese people who suffer physical and mental pain caused by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin sprayed by the US army during the war in Vietnam.
A range of activities have been organised at the exhibition house No. 45 Trang Tien street, Hanoi, from October 22-25 to raise funds for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.
