A fund “For Agent Orange Pain” run by the Vietnam News Agency and the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) chapters in Soc Trang, Lam Dong and Bac Giang provinces have presented gifts worth VND500,000 – VND1 million and wheelchairs to hundreds of families of AO victims.

*** The Red Cross in the southern province of Soc Trang, in coordination with charitable organisations and benefactors, has presented over 2,000 gifts worth nearly VND500,000 each to AO victims. The association also raised funds to build three houses for families of AO victims to help them stabilise their lives.

Soc Trang now has nearly 700 AO victims who each receive a VND120,000 allowance per month from the State.

*** The Red Cross in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong provided gifts and capital for more than 200 families of AO victims to help them develop production. It presented four houses worth VND20 million each to four families and provided free orthopedic surgery for 41 victims.

*** The Central Highland province of Gia Lai currently has 12,500 AO victims who are living in difficult situations, around 3,000 of whom receive State allowances while the remaining depend on community support.

Charitable organisations have done a lot to help AO victims overcome difficulties. The provincial VAVA has raised around VND800 million annually to support the victims. Local authorities have repaired houses, provided seeds and livestock, and allocated farming land to help them stabilise their lives. However, they still face a number of difficulties and need more support from charitable organisations.

*** To mark the “Day for AO Victims” (August 10), the VAVA chapter in Ninh Binh province held a ceremony on August 6 to honour AO victims, mostly soldiers and volunteers who overcome their handicaps to integrate into the community.

The association also presented certificates of merit and gifts to outstanding individuals and organisations.

Currently, Ninh Binh has more than 11,000 AO victims. Over the past years, the association has carried out a wide range of activities to encourage donors to build house, generate job, and provide wheelchairs and gifts to the unfortunate victims.

*** The VAVA chapter in Hanoi, in coordination with the VAVA in Dong Da precinct and Viettel Hanoi, presented 100 gifts worth VND55 million to AO victims on August 7.

Hanoi has built hundreds of houses for families of the victims and provided vocational training and equipment for them to improve their lives.