Orange Pain

(Baonghean) - From the resistance war against the US to save the country, thousands of veterans stepped out of the war with pride in having completed their mission to the Fatherland. No one expected that the end of the war did not mean peace. There was still a silent, painful and persistent war that lasted for many generations, originating from the toxic substance called Agent Orange/dioxin.

Giving gifts to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vinh City. Photo: TV

Thuy was born with disabilities. But Mr. Hue and Mrs. Hai only thought that it was the result of a famine pregnancy, of days of struggling to make a living. No one knew that it was a consequence of Agent Orange/dioxin - the most devastating poison in human history. It was not until the early 2000s, through mass media and disability identification programs, that they understood the cause of their child's physical disabilities. "I joined the army in 1970, and fought for 6 years on battlefield B. My wife steadfastly stayed for 3 years on battlefield A, in Laos. To be honest, bombs and bullets were pounding day and night, the order was to march, to advance, but hardship, famine, food and water were scarce, who would think about it!" - Mr. Hoang Van Hue pondered. Not only Mr. Hue, many of his other comrades, when they learned about Agent Orange/dioxin, also searched their memories of the enemy's dense spraying of toxic chemicals. They shuddered thinking about the dry seasons of the battlefield, marching through the leafless forests, even the ancient trees that could be hugged by 4 or 5 people had gradually withered, leaving only a vast, sad gray color. No one could count how many dead forests they had passed through, how much water they had drunk from rivers, streams, even stagnant water in enemy bomb craters! At that time, between death and life fighting for each moment, for the soldiers, the first priority was to live to wait for the day of the general offensive in the South, to unify the country.

Mr. Hoang Van Hue’s war memories were suddenly interrupted by his daughter’s scream. Thuy often had epileptic seizures without warning. At such times, the couple hurriedly used spoons, water, acupressure… to give first aid to their daughter…

Sometimes what is left behind after the war is more terrifying than all the things it took away in the battle. We can restore villages, rebuild houses, and light fires in the kitchens, but what about the eyes that do not know the blue of the peaceful sky, the ears that do not know how to hear their mother's lullaby, and the countless twisted, deformed figures, who have to live a makeshift, precarious life, how can we erase that pain? Not far from Mr. Hoang Van Hue's house is the family of Mr. Tran Hai Hoa. He is a brave soldier of Group 559, carrying within him the noble qualities of a Truong Son soldier. For Mr. Hoa, all the heroic battles he has experienced are not as fierce and bitter as a moment facing the loss of his children and grandchildren. He himself is a direct victim of Agent Orange/dioxin. His eyes gradually become dimmer, and his internal organs also "fall apart" a lot. But he said, his life was already fulfilled, young men fought to defend the country, in old age actively participated in community activities, lived in harmony with the neighbors, only worried about the next generations. He and his wife had 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl, the third son, Tran Van Mai, was disabled, had slow communication and mental development. His eldest son, Tran Van Tuan, is over 30 years old this year, and had to accept the presence of a terrible poison, lurking in his body, passed on to his children. Apart from their eldest son, who turned 8 this year, they could no longer have the happiness of being parents. The holy souls that had just begun to take shape were forever separated, the fetal abnormalities that modern medical technology can completely diagnose are the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin passed on to the third generation.

However, pain is very strange! Pain can make people fall, but it can also be the motivation to strive to live a better life. For the Agent Orange victims that I have had the opportunity to meet, their life stories are beautiful poems about the will and desire to overcome fate, to conquer adversity. Like the family of veteran Tran Hai Hoa, the storms did not make them stop and demand, wait for help from anyone. The whole family is diligent in agricultural production, working hard all year round with the fields. The wife goes to the market to earn a living, the husband participates in village and commune work, several children save up to buy a plow, a rice thresher, to meet the needs of the local people. In addition, they are also considered to be good at raising livestock, as the barn always has a few breeding cows, calves, chickens, ducks... "I am not the only one who has to bear the pain of Agent Orange/dioxin, in Nghi Long commune alone there are 70 cases of victims directly or indirectly affected. Therefore, I myself have to make an effort to overcome the situation, overcome the psychology of depression and sadness. Live each day meaningfully!" - Veteran Tran Hai Hoa affirmed.

“Nghi Loc district has 1,200 victims of Agent Orange, of which Nghi Long commune accounts for a fairly high number. In recent years, the work of caring for the material and spiritual lives of families of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin has been focused on. Along with visits, encouragement, and gift-giving on holidays and Tet, the commune is very active in completing documents and procedures to ensure legitimate rights for victims of Agent Orange in the area. In the commune, there are 70 victims directly and indirectly affected, but only 4 households are poor. In the coming time, we have established specific action programs such as supporting house repairs, supporting production tools... to help these 4 families."Escape poverty, confidently integrate into the community" - Mr. Le Van Nghia - Chairman of Nghi Long Commune People's Committee said.

Along with Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Nghe An is considered the province with the most Agent Orange victims in the country, with more than 30,000 people, of which nearly 16,577 people are beneficiaries. Mr. Dinh Xuan Tu - Chairman of the Provincial Association of Agent Orange Victims said: "Most of the Agent Orange victims in the province have a difficult life in terms of material and mental complexes. Therefore, in recent times, along with advising all levels and sectors, propagating policies and guidelines for Agent Orange victims, the Association has also made efforts to mobilize resources from the community. In 2013, the Association mobilized more than 2.5 billion VND in donations. These resources, along with the support of their families, help Agent Orange victims become more confident and steadfast in life."

Phuong Chi