Support for Agent Orange victims
With a large number of Agent Orange victims, the Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims in Dien Chau district has made efforts to mobilize social resources to care for the material and spiritual lives of victims, helping their families gradually overcome difficulties.
Agent Orange pain
This year, they are all over 50 years old, but due to the consequences of Agent Orange from their father who fought in the battlefields of Binh - Tri - Thien, Southern Laos, Mr. Le Thuong (who passed away in 2022), sisters Le Thi Hien (born in 1973), Le Thi Lanh (born in 1975) and Le Thi Quy (born in 1977) in hamlet 5, Dien Hai commune all have difficulty in movement and cognition, are blind, often have epilepsy, often break things and wander around the hamlet.
My wife and I have 7 children, 3 of whom are daughters infected with Agent Orange. For more than 40 years, I have had to take care of the whole family by myself. No matter how difficult and hard life is, I don't feel miserable because I'm used to it, but seeing my 3 daughters unable to control themselves, I feel as if my heart is being torn apart. But in the past ten years, thanks to the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the district and commune, who have repeatedly helped and supported us in repairing our houses, and many times brought in benefactors to help, and the neighbors who have taken care of us, otherwise I don't know how my children and I would have survived."
Mrs. Bui Thi Lieu - mother of 3 children infected with Agent Orange
Another tragic situation is the family of Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan (born in 1944), in Hamlet 3, Dien My Commune. Having fought in the Quang Nam battlefield, Mr. Tuan returned to his hometown after being discharged from the army with a 4/4 war invalid certificate and being infected with Agent Orange.
This poison not only seriously affected his health but also caused his only son to suffer severe consequences: he had a physical disability, was mentally retarded, had been married, and had two children who both suffered from neurological disorders, and for many years were no longer able to take care of themselves. A few years ago, Mr. Tuan's wife had a stroke and was bedridden. Despite his advanced age, he still had to increase production to take care of four disabled and sick family members.
“Without the livelihood assistance and regular encouragement from the District and Commune Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, I certainly would not have been able to make it to where I am today.”
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan (born in 1944), in hamlet 3, Dien My commune, Dien Chau district
Power through the pain
According to statistics, Dien Chau district is one of the localities with the largest number of Agent Orange victims in the province with 1,326 people, concentrated in Dien My commune (86 people), Dien Thanh (72 people), Dien Hai (60 people).... Of which, 656 people were directly infected due to participating in the resistance war, the rest are children and grandchildren of the above subjects. Nearly 200 direct victims have serious cancers, 150 children and grandchildren of victims are deformed, disabled, and cannot work or serve themselves. The lives of families of Agent Orange victims are still much lower than the average living standards of people in the whole district.
Faced with that situation, the work of caring for the victims' lives was identified by the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Dien Chau district as a key task, with the motto: "Self-mobilization for on-site relief is the main thing".
To date, the district has established 37/37 Associations for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in communes and towns with 1,395 members. Associations at all levels have proactively advised local Party committees and authorities to promote propaganda, mobilization, and organize many practical activities to help victims in difficult circumstances.
Mr. Cao Dang Nien - Chairman of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Dien Chau District
Thanks to the active call for participation of agencies, units, businesses in the district and also children who have successfully worked far from home, Dien Chau district is one of the few districts, cities and towns with a relatively stable source of support for the Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims Fund, from 500 - 700 million VND/year, focusing mainly on supporting housing construction, supporting livelihood capital, supporting sudden difficulties for victims with serious cancer...
With the support of organizations, there have been many examples of Agent Orange victims overcoming difficulties and rising up in life, a typical example is Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung (born in 1954), in hamlet 11, Dien Thanh commune. Having participated in the battle on the Binh - Tri - Thien battlefield since 1972, discharged in 1986, Mr. Tung was infected with Agent Orange and left behind consequences for 3 children, including a daughter with deformities and mental retardation. From nearly 50 million VND in initial support from the District Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, he opened a small workshop specializing in sewing doormats. After nearly 10 years of operation, the facility created jobs for 30 workers, Mr. Tung's income is also stable at more than 150 million VND/year.
The encouragement and sharing from the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the district and commune has given me more motivation to overcome difficulties. In the coming time, I will strive to maintain and develop production, thereby receiving more workers who are children of Agent Orange victims."
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung (Dien Thanh commune, Dien Chau district)
In addition, there is the case of Mr. Vo Duc Tien (born in 1951), in hamlet 3, Dien My commune, who fought in the Binh - Tri - Thien battlefield. After being discharged from the army, he returned to his hometown with a 1/4 class war invalid certificate, and was infected with Agent Orange. His only son, Mr. Vo Duc Thanh (born in 1982), was also exposed to Agent Orange from his father. After starting a family, Mr. Thanh had 4 children, 3 of whom were exposed to Agent Orange, leading to mental retardation. Not giving up on fate, in addition to actively increasing production, Mr. Tien also participates in local social activities. He is currently the Vice President of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Dien My commune, regularly participating in fundraising activities to support Agent Orange victims in the area./.
