The Ha Noi Fund for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin Victims was launched today [Jan 14], the state-run Vietnam News Agency said Jan 14. The fund, established by the Municipal Association of AO Victims, is expected to mobilize different sources from both inside and outside of the country to care for and help AO victims in the city improve their living conditions and integrate with society. At the launch ceremony, the fund received VND815 million ($41,565) from donors. The fund hopes to raise more than VND1 billion ($51,000) to buy 1,000 gift packages for local AO victims for the upcoming Lunar New Year festival (Tet), said the fund director, Tran Thi Phuong Dung. There are around 35,000 AO victims in the city but only 16,000 of them receive the state allowance. (Vietnam News Jan 14)
