Dioxin victims need community help to ease suffering

Ho Thi Lang, a poor resident of Da Nang city’s Ngu Hanh Son district in central Vietnam, lives in a dilapidated house together with her four children, all of whom have been infected with Agent Orange. There is nothing valuable in their home except for an old-fashioned television.

During the war of resistance against the US imperialists more than five decades ago, her husband, Le Ngoc Bich, was exposed to the toxic chemicals sprayed by the US military over Vietnamese lands, forests, and rivers whilst serving as a militiaman. 

When Bich married Lang they had four children together, with life being fairly ordinary until their children turned 16 and 17. When they reached this age, each of their children became ill more frequently, struggled with mobility issues, and their speech regressed.

Whenever the weather changed, all the four children suffered from seizures, often smashing furniture in the house.

This year sees Lang turn over 80 years old. She is currently seriously ill and is unable to move from her bed. All of the family’s burdens fall on her youngest son, Le Trung Vinh, who suffers from milder symptoms compared to that of his siblings.

Lang had previously received VND30 million from the local administration in order to refurbish the house, but harsh weather conditions made the once valuable property seriously deteriorate. Every month, her family relies on an allowance worth just VND4 million from the State, along with regular assistance from businesses, which partly helps the family to make ends meet.

“We lead a very hard life. We cannot survive without assistance from the Government and various philanthropists,” Vinh confides.

Ngu Hanh Son district is home to approximately 500 Agent Orange/dioxin victims. The local administration presents hundreds of gifts to these victims on national holidays and the Lunar Near Year Festival.

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Marking this year’s national Agent Orange/Dioxin Day on August 10, 200 gifts worth between VND300,000 - 500,000 each have been delivered to the victims’ families. In addition, social organisations and businesses have also provided them with rice, green vegetables, and other necessities aimed at supporting their daily meals.

“We often visit the victims, inquiring into their living conditions and hearing about their aspirations,” says Mai Nen, vice chairman of the district People’s Committee, “We allocate the local budget to repair their dilapidated houses, provide them with loans to develop household economy and generate jobs for them as well.”

Meanwhile, charities, businesses, and generous benefactors also lend a helping hand to the victims, assisting them to live a stable life. One of those benefactors, Quang Army Civil Engineering and Construction Company in Cam Le district, has given thousands of gifts to 20 children of AO/dioxin victims, totaling approximately VND600 million.

“Assisting the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin is our obligation. We aspire to help them have a better life and better integrate into the community,” says Huynh Thanh Quang, general director of Quang Army.

This year, the Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims of Da Nang has delivered roughly 1,000 gifts, 200 wheelchairs, and bicycles to victims in need.

The Association has worked alongside charities and businesses in order to raise more than VND100 billion in support of the victims. Thanks to their help, many families have repaired their houses and developed means of livelihood in order to overcome their various difficulties.

“There are still many families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims living in poverty in the city. In addition to government support, we will continue to lobby other charities and businesses to give gifts and livelihoods in time to people in need,” says Thanh Tien, vice chairman of the Association.