The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) has raised more than VND1.5 trillion (US$64.44 million) in the last five years to support victims, according to association Vice President Dang Nam Dien.

Presenting gifts to Agent Orange/dioxin victims

Dien was addressing a meeting of the VAVA Central Committee in Hanoi on December 7 to review five years of implementing Directive No 43-CT/TW from the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on the strengthening of the Party in the settlement of consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin (AO) used by the US during the war in Vietnam, and to sketch out orientations for the association in 2021.

He said that, this year, despite the difficulties posed by COVID-19 and natural disasters, the VAVA’s chapters at all levels have managed to complete all tasks assigned.

During the year, some VND367 billion was mobilised for AO victims, which was used to build 1,041 houses for the needy, and provide capital to more than 1,300 people, scholarships to nearly 3,100 students, and nursing care to more than 4,000 people. Healthcare services, dioxin detoxification, and Lunar New Year (Tet) gifts were also presented to thousands of victims.

Activities to claim justice for the victims, meanwhile, have been moving in the right direction, he said.

The VAVA will organise an event in 2021 marking 60 years of the AO disaster in Vietnam while implementing people’s diplomacy activities and giving advice to the Party and the State on suitable policies for AO victims and their offspring.

The VAVA has launched an emulation movement, “For AO victims in 2021”, while honouring collectives and individuals displaying outstanding performance in 2020.