The US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/dioxin has set out a 300 million USD plan of action during the 2010-2019 period, focusing on human health and environment.
So said Vice Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Ngo Quang Xuan, Co-Head of the Dialogue Group, at a press conference to announce the group’s Declaration and the 2010-2019 Action Plan in Hanoi on June 16.
The group’s approaches include raising awareness of the public, especially US authorities and people, mobilising all possible resources for addressing the AO/dioxin issue in Vietnam and prioritise projects which clean dioxin-contaminated land areas, restoring the environment and supporting people exposed to the toxic chemical and their families’ members, he stated.
Assessing the AO/dioxin situation in Vietnam , the dialogue group said that between 1962 and 1971, the US troops sprayed over 80 million litres of AO/dioxin on the one fourth of southern Vietnam ’s territory. At least 4.5 million Vietnamese people, including 2.8 million soldiers, were exposed to the toxic chemical from 1962 to 1975. Researchers pointed out 28 hot spots of dioxin contamination in Vietnam and that AO causes numerous fatal diseases for those exposed to it.
Therefore, the group called for full support from the US side to basically address the AO/dioxin issue – a big issue in the US-Vietnam ties– in order to strengthen the developing relationship between the two countries.
According to the dialogue group, the Vietnamese government and people have made great efforts together with many international and US organisations to remove the remnants of AO/dioxin. However, the issue is too complicated and requires huge resources.
It also suggested that the US government should play a major role in covering expenses and together with other public and private donors join the Vietnamese government and people’s efforts.
The dialogue group has 10 members, including five from the Vietnamese side and five from the US side.
On the same day, in Washington DC , its five US members held a press conference to announce the Declaration and the 2010-2019 Action Plan./.
So said Vice Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Ngo Quang Xuan, Co-Head of the Dialogue Group, at a press conference to announce the group’s Declaration and the 2010-2019 Action Plan in Hanoi on June 16.
The group’s approaches include raising awareness of the public, especially US authorities and people, mobilising all possible resources for addressing the AO/dioxin issue in Vietnam and prioritise projects which clean dioxin-contaminated land areas, restoring the environment and supporting people exposed to the toxic chemical and their families’ members, he stated.
Assessing the AO/dioxin situation in Vietnam , the dialogue group said that between 1962 and 1971, the US troops sprayed over 80 million litres of AO/dioxin on the one fourth of southern Vietnam ’s territory. At least 4.5 million Vietnamese people, including 2.8 million soldiers, were exposed to the toxic chemical from 1962 to 1975. Researchers pointed out 28 hot spots of dioxin contamination in Vietnam and that AO causes numerous fatal diseases for those exposed to it.
Therefore, the group called for full support from the US side to basically address the AO/dioxin issue – a big issue in the US-Vietnam ties– in order to strengthen the developing relationship between the two countries.
According to the dialogue group, the Vietnamese government and people have made great efforts together with many international and US organisations to remove the remnants of AO/dioxin. However, the issue is too complicated and requires huge resources.
It also suggested that the US government should play a major role in covering expenses and together with other public and private donors join the Vietnamese government and people’s efforts.
The dialogue group has 10 members, including five from the Vietnamese side and five from the US side.
On the same day, in Washington DC , its five US members held a press conference to announce the Declaration and the 2010-2019 Action Plan./.
