The US will provide technical assistance worth US$400,000 to help Vietnam overcome dioxin effects in the areas sprayed with the US toxic chemicals.
The announcement was made by US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Marine at a press briefing in Hanoi on February 9.
Mr Marine said the aid is another proof of a close co-operation between the US and Vietnam. Pollution control efforts will focus on the area surrounding Da Nang Airport which is one of the three seriously polluted sites known as Da Nang, Bien Hoa and Phu Cat. American and Vietnamese experts have met to discuss technical plans and possible solutions.
Mr Marine emphasized that the US Government is fully aware of the Vietnamese Government and people’s growing concern about dioxin effects on the environment and human health. Since 2001, the US has spent US$2 million technically assisting Vietnam in solving the pollution problem.
