US pledges to help Vietnam overcome AO aftermath
(VOV) -US agencies are willing to cooperate and support Vietnam to deal with and overcome the serious consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin.
They have admitted that it is a complicated, long-term issue that requires the joint efforts of both Vietnam and the US.
Head of the US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on AO/Dioxin, Ha Huy Thong, made this statement on April 19 during his ongoing visit to Washington, D.C.
He said the US senators are still committed to maintaining the budget for the AO/Dioxin detoxification programme in Vietnam, despite the fact that the country has suffered massive public spending cuts of more than US$80 billion in 2013.
Last year, the US provided Vietnam with US$44 million to clean up and detoxify some AO/Dioxin infected areas in the central city of Danang.
Vietnam has 3.5-4 million people suffering from the effects of the toxic chemical and the Aspen Institute, an international non-profit organisation headquartered in the US capital, estimates that the country needs about US$410 million to deal with AO/Dioxin issues in the 2012-2017 period.