VAVA Raises VND120B for AO Victims

The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) raised more than VND 120 billion for AO victims in the first 10 months of 2012. From 1961-1971, the US troops sprayed more than 80 million liters of toxins, 44 million liters of which were AO containing nearly 370kg of dioxin, over almost a quarter of southern Vietnam. As a result, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the chemical defoliants, of whom 3 million have been suffered from serious health problems. The Hanoi Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin has set a target of raising about VND 7 billion this year to help AO victims. In 2012, the association campaigned organizations and individuals to donate nearly VND 6 billion in kind and cash to its fund to support more than 21,000 AO victims. (hanoitimes.com.vn Mar 11)