Young Vietnamese expats in France work to support AO/dioxin victims

Paris (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in France on September 19 held a meeting with young Vietnamese expatriates who contributed to the success of a recent programme calling for support to victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in the homeland.

The online programme, held by the Collectif Vietam-Dioxine – an organisation that works for the sake of AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam, lasted for 36 hours, from 2pm of August 9 to 3am of August 11 (Vietnam time). It featured talks, discussions, documentary screening and interviews, focusing on AO/dioxin consequences and calling for support from people worldwide to the struggle for justice for the Vietnamese victims.

Nearly 50 volunteers, mostly young Vietnamese expatriates in France, spent nearly two months preparing for the programme, which attracted hundreds of thousands of views and interactions on social networks.

Organisers also received 7,300 signatures advocating the lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga, a Vietnamese living in France, against the US chemical companies that provided chemical toxics for the US army during the war, leading to a health disaster for her and her compatriots in Vietnam.

Besides, 5,400 EUR (nearly 6,400 USD) was raised for the fund for AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam during that programme.

At the meeting with young Vietnamese expatriates, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep said their organisation of the programme reflected their patriotism and wish to share the pain and loss suffered by nearly 5 million AO/dioxin victims in the homeland.

He stressed the Vietnamese Government has been making utmost efforts to address war consequences, including those related to AO/dioxin, noting that more than 3 million ha of forest land had been destroyed by the toxic and it has impacted not only the nature but also health of many generations of Vietnamese people.

To protect people’s health, Vietnam has completely banned the use of chemical products derived from dioxin or glyphosate since 2019. It has also boosted coordination with the US to clean up AO/dioxin-contaminated areas like Bien Hoa and Da Nang airports, he added.

Thiep said the Vietnamese Embassy in France has consistently been assisting the fierce legal fight for justice for AO/dioxin victims, including Nga – the last direct victim to launch a lawsuit to seek justice for herself and other victims.

At the 19th trial on Nga’s lawsuit in late June, the judge decided to open a hearing at the crown court of Evry on October 12, according to the ambassador./.