Mexico Grants 120 Wheelchairs to Vietnam AO/Dioxin Victims

General Secretary of Mexican Labor Party (PT) Alberto Anaya Gutierrez donated 120 wheelchairs to the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) in Mexico City on August 16. The visiting head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, who received the gifts on behalf of the VAVA, thanked the PT for their support to Vietnamese AO victims and said this contributes to the protection of peace and justice in the world. The leader of the Mexican Labor Party has also voiced support for the Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims, saying that U.S. chemical companies must be responsible for the great damages causing to the Vietnamese people. Earlier, at a working session with visiting Party member Quan, the Mexico-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group expressed its solidarity and assistance to Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims in their fight for justice. Vietnam has an estimated number of 4.8 million people suffering from 80 million liters of defoliants including the highly toxic AO with over 10% of total areas in the southern region sprayed by American troops from 1961 to 1971. Millions of Vietnamese people who suffered AO who have been facing numerous difficulties caused by diseases including cancers and disability have lived on social welfares and supports by foreign organizations. (Nhan Dan Aug 19 p8, vietnamplus.vn Aug 19)