VAVA raises cash, support for Agent Orange victims

VietnamNews — The Viet Nam Agent Orange/dioxin Victims Association (VAVA) has reported that they raised over VND6.6 billion (US$412,500), in donations in 2006.

Deputy President and General Secretary of VAVA Tran Xuan Thu, reported at a meeting in Ha Noi, on Tuesday that the association had been extremely active in winning the support of the international community.

He cited the success of an international conference on AO/dioxin victims which hosted representatives from countries that sent troops to Viet Nam during the American war.

The conference highlighted the devastating consequences that Agent Orange has had on communities globally, and also went on to strengthen the bonds between Vietnamese victims, said the VAVA chief.

He added that impressive pledges for support were made by a number of delegations, including Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Italy.

Thu also said that VAVA had worked closely with Thai Binh Province and Ha Noi hospitals to collect hundreds of dossiers on victims to strengthen its scientific evidence for a pending trial against US chemical companies, filed by Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims.

Thai Binh and Ha Noi have sent delegates to represent the thousands of Vietnamese A/O victims, while Military Hospital 108 and the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Centre have provided medical evidence for the plaintiffs.

VAVA also unveiled their plans for the 2007 year, which will focus more attention on gaining greater international support for the trial, as well as a continuance of the groups aid efforts.

The association is awaiting on Government approval on a proposal to hold an international conference in Moscow, Russia, on the consequences of a chemical war left behind by American forces in Viet Nam. The conference would solidify more international support, especially in Eastern Europe, for the trial, concluded the VAVA leader.

The association also hopes to build a functional rehabilitation centre for victims from the central and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) regions, which will have international experts invited to work at the facility.