U.S. Veterans Tour Vietnam in Efforts to Ease Pains of AO Victims

A delegation of U.S. Veterans for Peace (VFP) is touring around Vietnam in a fortnight-trip to some areas with high dioxin residue left in the Vietnam War in an effort to ease pains of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. With the participation of 15 Vietnam veterans including those contributed a lot to Vietnamese AO victims, Suel Jones and Chuck Palazzo, the delegation made first stop in Hanoi to work with representatives from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), and the Vietnam-U.S. Friendship Society on issues concerning effects caused by dioxin as well as charity activities to the vulnerable people. During the tour, the delegation will visit AO victims at their home and in social centers and study at contamination sites in Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. The tour is conducted with an aim to partly support Vietnamese AO victims who are reported to suffer dioxin-linked serious diseases including cancers and congenital malformation. AO victims in Vietnam are estimated to hit 4.8 million as consequences of the Vietnam War lasting from 1954 to 1975 with the participation of American army. From 1961 to 1971, the U.S. army sprayed about 80 million liters of defoliants including the highly toxic Agent Orange over 10% of total areas in southern Vietnam. The action has left serious consequences on people, environment and social issues in the country. The U.S. has joined hands with Vietnam to solve AO contamination, funding dozens of millions dollar to Vietnamese AO victims. However, the U.S. slowly responded to the issue due to Vietnam’s political attitude. (Tien Phong April 26 p3, Dat Viet April 26 p2)