Mexico Grants 120 Wheelchairs to Vietnamese AO Victims

The General Secretary of Mexico’s Labor Party (PT), Senator Alberto Anaya Gutiérrer and the Vietnam-Mexico Friendship Parliamentarians group have donated 120 wheelchairs to support Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange (AO). The donations were handed over to the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/ Dioxin (VAVA) in Hanoi Dec 5. VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh affirmed the gifts show the deep sympathy of the General Secretary and the Mexican Labor Party with the Vietnamese AO victims. José Benavides, who is a PT Central Committee member, said that Vietnam War wound has not been properly healed and millions of Vietnamese people are still suffering from the effects of the toxic chemicals. He emphasized that the Mexican Labor Party will continue supporting Vietnamese AO victims in their struggle for justice. Millions of Vietnamese AO victims who have been facing numerous difficulties caused by diseases including cancers and disability have lived on social welfares and supports by foreign organizations.  Vietnamese AO victims are regarded as the most vulnerable people of the disadvantaged groups in the Southeast Asian country as they are direct, second or third-generation victims of the toxic chemical spreading. The Southeast Asian country has an estimated number of 4.8 million people suffering from 80 million liters of defoliants including the highly toxic Agent Orange with over 10% of total areas in the southern region sprayed by the U.S. troops from 1961 to 1971. (Nong Thon Ngay Nay – Countryside Today Dec 6 p10, Vietnamplus.vn Dec 5, vov.vn Dec 5)