The community joins hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange

The war has receded, but the wounds are still present in many families because of the effect of Agent Orange with irreparable pain. Together with the whole country, all levels of Party committees and provincial authorities have been joining hands to share and help Agent Orange victims to have more strength to overcome pain, rise in life.

On the occasion of the 2022 Lunar New Year, the family of Mr. Au Viet Muoi, Na Lam village, Hong Phong commune, Cao Loc district welcomed Tet in a new solid house with a warm and full spring atmosphere. Mr. Muoi joined the army in 1967, belonged to Battalion 20, B3 Front. During his military service, he participated in combat, served in the battlefields in Tay Nguyen and was exposed to toxic chemicals.

Leaders of the Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange give gifts to Agent Orange victims in Lang Son city

In August 1972, he returned to his homeland carrying in his body toxic chemicals and war wounds (class ¾ wounded soldier). The family’s economy is difficult, the disease is clinging, so the old house has deteriorated, but his family has no conditions to upgrade and repair. In November 2021, Mr. Muoi’s family was connected and mobilized by the District Association for Victims of Agent Orange, businesses and individuals to support the construction of a new house, in which District People’s Committee supported 20 million VND; District Association for Victims of Agent Orange supported 15 million VND; ; Bac Bo Non-ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company supported 5 million VND along with the fund from families and unions who contributed labor days in 2 months  to completed the house with an area of over 50 m2.

Mr. Au Viet Muoi shared: “I am very grateful to the organizations, authorities, and the Association for Victims of Agent Orange at all levels for their interest and support for my family to build a new solid house. From now on, my family does not have to worry about rain, wind and cold anymore, we can confidently raise children and grandchildren to work and gradually stabilize their lives.”

Not only Mr. Muoi’s family, in the year 2021 and the first 6 months of 2022, all levels of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange in the province have connected, mobilized resources to support 130 million VND, helping 4 families of Agent Orange to build gratitude houses in districts: Dinh Lap, Loc Binh, Van Quan, Cao Loc. Along with that, the work of visiting and giving gifts to Agent Orange victims on holidays and Tet is also being focused by associations in the province. For example, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, all levels of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange in the province received and mobilized resources to visit and give over 2,000 gifts, worth over 600 million VND.

Leaders of the Provincial Military Command give gifts to Agent Orange victims in Cao Loc district

In addition, the association also supported the sending of 26 Agent Orange victims to sauna and detoxification in Hanoi, and organized to send 35 Agent Orange victims to visit ancient battlefields, visit advanced models in provinces and cities in the South… Through these activities, it has contributed to encourage, share and help Agent Orange victims with the motto “No one is left behind”.

Mr. Ha Van Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange said: Currently, the whole province has more than 750 Agent Orange victims, of which more than 350 are direct victims and the rest are children and grandchildren indirectly affected. Most of the Agent Orange victims had a very difficult life, often suffering from pain and illness. In order to promptly encourage and share difficulties, over the years, the province has paid attention to fully implement policies and regimes for Agent Orange victims. Depending on the degree of decrease in working capacity, Agent Orange victims will be entitled to different levels of allowance. However, in order for the Agent Orange victims to not suffer from inferiority and have conditions to develop their economy and integrate into the community, it is very necessary for the community to continue to join hands to alleviate the pain of Agent Orange.

Nearly 60 years have passed, but the pain and effect of Agent Orange to the victims and their descendants can hardly be described in words. With the participation of the whole political system, together with the cooperation of the whole society, it will add faith and strength to help them overcome the effect of war, building a prosperous and happy life and it is also a way to express gratitude to those who have sacrificed their lives and youth for national independence and reunification.