Vietnamese youths join hands in caring for AO/dioxin victims

VAVA President Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Vinh hailed the significance of the programme as it helps tighten the relationship between the two organisations and step up coordination in activities promoting the role of youths in caring for and protecting the rights and legitimate interests of AO/dioxin victims.

Permanent Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan said that contribution to the care for AO/dioxin victims is not only responsibility but also aspiration of the youth union and young Vietnamese people.

He asked HCYU’s units to carry out activities to promote the strength and creativeness of young people, particular in digitalising addresses of AO/dioxin victims to facilitate the dissemination and mobilisation of assistance from the entire society and international community for them.

According to VAVA Vice President Nguyen Van Khanh, during 2018-2023, the two offices will coordinate in stepping up disseminations on dioxin catastrophe in Vietnam as well as the Party and State’s policies to address consequences of the toxic chemical used by the US during war in Vietnam.

They will collaborate in organising events during festivals, providing vocational training and jobs for AO/dioxin victims and their families, and expanding external activities to make foreign youths understand more the struggle for justice for the victims.

The US army sprayed some 80 million litres of toxic chemicals from 1961 to 1971, 61 percent of which was Agent Orange containing 366 kilograms of dioxin, over nearly one quarter of the total area of South Vietnam.

Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin, and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people have died while millions of others have suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their offspring have also suffered from birth deformities.