Addressing the consequences of toxic Agent Orange (AO) and caring forthe AO victims are a long-term, crucial and urgent task, continuouslyneeding the key role of the Vietnam Association of Victims of AO/dioxin(VAVA), Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.
Addressingthe VAVA’s third National Congress in Hanoi on December 24, the leadercalled on the association to raise its operational efficiency in orderto well bridge the community and AO victims in the care for thesedisadvantaged.
He said the association should give moreimportance to the mass mobilisation work to gain more support, both athome and abroad, for the victims.
The association is alsorequired to coordinate with relevant branches and agencies in thisfield, enhance international solidarity and persistently pursue thestruggle for justice of Vietnamese AO victims.
Over the pastdecade, VAVA has played the core in lawsuits against US chemicalcompanies producing the defoliant Agent Orange, which was sprayed onVietnam during the war, to seek justice for Vietnamese AO victims.
According to VAVA, US troops sprayed 80 million litres of thedefoliant Agent Orange, which contained almost 400 kg of toxic dioxin,on Vietnam’s southern battlefields during a 10-year period beginning onAugust 10, 1961.
Preliminary statistics by Vietnamesescientists indicated about three million Vietnamese people wereexposed to dioxin, while statistics from US scientists at ColumbiaUniversity showed that the number is anywhere between 2.1 - 4.8 million.The toxic chemicals still have a severe influence on Vietnam’s filialgeneration today.
The association’sefforts are well worth as it has drawn more attention of PartyCommittees and authorities at all levels, and received warm responsefrom the public, he said.
He stated that the Party,State, the whole political system and people will try their utmost tohelp the disadvantaged group enjoy better lives.
During the2013-2018 tenure, the association will continue the justice fight for AOvictim and strive to have a membership of 400,000.
Itproposed the Party and State to soon announce norms identifying AOvictims in a bid to help perfect policies towards the victims and makeit easier for their hard struggle.
The congress proclaimedformer Vice State President Nguyen Thi Binh as the association’shonorary President and elected a new 101-member executive board withSen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Van Rinh retaining his post as President.
Established on January 10, 2004, VAVA now groups chapters in 59cities and provinces with over 315,000 members. It has set up funds in33 localities and 24 rehabilitation centres in 20 provinces and cities.
It has raised nearly 718 billion VND (34 million USD)in and outside the country to repair and build houses, grantscholarships, generate jobs and offer storm relief for AO victims andtheir families.-VNA
Addressingthe VAVA’s third National Congress in Hanoi on December 24, the leadercalled on the association to raise its operational efficiency in orderto well bridge the community and AO victims in the care for thesedisadvantaged.
He said the association should give moreimportance to the mass mobilisation work to gain more support, both athome and abroad, for the victims.
The association is alsorequired to coordinate with relevant branches and agencies in thisfield, enhance international solidarity and persistently pursue thestruggle for justice of Vietnamese AO victims.
Over the pastdecade, VAVA has played the core in lawsuits against US chemicalcompanies producing the defoliant Agent Orange, which was sprayed onVietnam during the war, to seek justice for Vietnamese AO victims.
According to VAVA, US troops sprayed 80 million litres of thedefoliant Agent Orange, which contained almost 400 kg of toxic dioxin,on Vietnam’s southern battlefields during a 10-year period beginning onAugust 10, 1961.
Preliminary statistics by Vietnamesescientists indicated about three million Vietnamese people wereexposed to dioxin, while statistics from US scientists at ColumbiaUniversity showed that the number is anywhere between 2.1 - 4.8 million.The toxic chemicals still have a severe influence on Vietnam’s filialgeneration today.
The association’sefforts are well worth as it has drawn more attention of PartyCommittees and authorities at all levels, and received warm responsefrom the public, he said.
He stated that the Party,State, the whole political system and people will try their utmost tohelp the disadvantaged group enjoy better lives.
During the2013-2018 tenure, the association will continue the justice fight for AOvictim and strive to have a membership of 400,000.
Itproposed the Party and State to soon announce norms identifying AOvictims in a bid to help perfect policies towards the victims and makeit easier for their hard struggle.
The congress proclaimedformer Vice State President Nguyen Thi Binh as the association’shonorary President and elected a new 101-member executive board withSen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Van Rinh retaining his post as President.
Established on January 10, 2004, VAVA now groups chapters in 59cities and provinces with over 315,000 members. It has set up funds in33 localities and 24 rehabilitation centres in 20 provinces and cities.
It has raised nearly 718 billion VND (34 million USD)in and outside the country to repair and build houses, grantscholarships, generate jobs and offer storm relief for AO victims andtheir families.-VNA
