Many meaningful and practical activities to support victims of Agent Orange/dioxin

(Baonghean) -On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam, localities in the province have many practical and meaningful activities to join hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange.

Since the beginning of the year, the amount of money donated to the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Nghe An province has reached over 1.2 billion VND.On this occasion, the province organized the awarding of 22 gratitude houses, each worth 26 million VND; 39 scholarships, each worth 3 million VND; 39 capital packages for livestock production, each worth 6 million VND; and 70 gifts, each worth 300,000 VND to the victims and their families.

On August 6, the Provincial Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims in collaboration with Nghe An Radio and Television organized a music exchange night "Action for Agent Orange Victims", praising the exemplary Agent Orange victims who strive to improve their lives and continue to call for the attention and help of the community for those who suffered severe consequences after the war. Thereby, many agencies, units and individuals were called upon to support the Provincial Agent Orange Victims Fund with an amount of 1.2 billion VND. In particular, the Command of Military Region 4 donated a house of gratitude worth 50 million VND and 10 million VND in cash to 5 victims.

Vinh City currently has over 3,000 people exposed to Agent Orange and nearly 1,000 of their descendants have disabilities caused by Agent Orange.Responding to the campaign: "Action for Agent Orange victims" of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, agencies, wards, communes, and philanthropists in the city actively mobilized contributions to support the Agent Orange victims fund with more than 200 million VND. Military Region 4 Command donated 1 gratitude house worth 50 million VND; the City Association of Agent Orange Victims donated 4 gratitude houses worth 100 million VND, increased 15 packages of medicine worth 30 million VND, 13 scholarships worth 26 million VND, 300 gifts worth 85 million VND, and supported 4 families to buy cows to develop livestock raising worth 24 million VND. On this occasion, Vinh City launched and called on all classes of people in the area to continue to support and contribute to sharing the pain of Agent Orange with the victims.

Nam Dan district has over 2,200 people exposed to toxic chemicals, of which 921 have been assessed and recognized as victims of Agent Orange dioxin.After 3 years of establishment, the Association of Agent Orange Victims from the district to the grassroots level, together with the Party Committees and authorities at all levels in Nam Dan, has mobilized organizations and individuals to support the "For Agent Orange Victims" fund with 300 million VND, supported the renovation and repair of 15 houses worth 170 million VND, supported capital for livestock production with 50 million VND, awarded 30 scholarships worth 40 million VND, and presented gifts to victims on the occasion of the traditional national holiday of more than 40 million VND. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam, the leaders of Nam Dan district and the Association of Agent Orange Victims organized a visit and presented 65 gifts to people infected with Agent Orange. At the ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster held on the morning of August 9, organizations, individuals, unions, and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises of the district donated more than 15 million VND.

Quy Hop district currently has 1,311 people exposed to Agent Orange dioxin.In recent times, the district has had many practical activities such as visiting and giving gifts, supporting loans for production development for the families of victims. On this occasion, Quy Hop has awarded 42 gifts (VND 300,000/gift), 4 scholarships (VND 1 million/gift), supported 3 families of victims to build houses and 1 family to borrow capital for production. Currently, the whole district has established 16 grassroots associations of Agent Orange victims and 4 branches under the Quy Hop District Association of Agent Orange Victims.

Responding to the call to support victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, on the morning of August 9, 2011,officers and employees of Que Phong district agenciesdonated and supported nearly 10 million VND.

PV-CTV