Former President Nguyen Minh Triet, former Vice President Truong My Hoa and more than 5,000 people participated in the walk for Agent Orange victims.
Photo: Thuan Van
Attending the 2025S Walk for Agent Orange Victims program, taking place at 7:00 a.m. on August 10 at Dam Sen Cultural Park, Ho Chi Minh City, were Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet - former President; Ms. Truong My Hoa - former Vice President; Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Thuy - Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Major General Do Hong Lam - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Major General Tran Ngoc Tho - former Chief of Staff of Military Region 7, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin...
The program also had the participation of representatives of accompanying international organizations such as Mr. Karl Van den Bossche - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Vietnam; representatives of the Consulates General of Belarus, Indonesia, and the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City; the American Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of Agent Orange Victims/USA... with the participation of about 5,000 people.
Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Son spoke at the program
Photo: Thuan Van
For the past 18 years, the Walk for Agent Orange Victims program has been organized to support victims affected by toxic chemicals in Vietnam. This is an annual social event full of humanity and practicality, contributing to the propaganda of the consequences of war to the masses of people across the country, and is an effective bridge between kind hearts and victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
Ho Chi Minh City estimates there are over 30,000 victims of Agent Orange.
At the program, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Son - Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin said that 64 years of Agent Orange disaster, 50 years of war have passed, but the terrible diseases, physical and mental pain still persist, tormenting millions of Vietnamese people through 3-4 generations, causing difficulties for each family and society.
Immediately after the country’s reunification, the Vietnamese government considered this a special war consequence issue and had many solutions and social policies to help Agent Orange victims. With the spirit of mutual love and support of the Vietnamese people, many organizations and individuals have joined hands to ease this pain. The lives of Agent Orange victims have also improved significantly; in addition, there is also support from international friends, both materially and spiritually.
Delegates present wheelchairs to Agent Orange victims
Photo: Thuan Van
Major General Nguyen Hong Son shared: "We cannot change history but we can change the future. Today we gather here to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster in Vietnam. In the spirit of "Putting the past behind - Looking to the future", Vietnam is deeply and comprehensively integrating into the world, we call on the conscience, hearts and hands of friends around the world to help ease this Agent Orange pain".
The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin said that after the merger, the number of victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City is estimated to be over 30,000 people with many generations. This is a big problem and challenge. Therefore, Major General Nguyen Hong Son suggested that it is necessary to continue to strengthen propaganda and education in society and international friends about the consequences of war and Agent Orange in Vietnam, especially for young people, calling on young Vietnamese people studying and living abroad to better understand and join hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange. In addition to the support and care of the Party and State, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin needs to be proactive, creative, dare to think, dare to do, and find appropriate solutions in its methods of operation.
People and Agent Orange victims participate in the morning walk program on August 10.
Photo: Thuan Van
"We need to quickly put the Orange Village project into operation. The project must solve three problems: health care, education and training, vocational training, and production organization. Agent Orange victims will change their status, from victims to inspirations. They will create products according to their abilities to affirm their own values. That is the purpose of helping them integrate into life. All of these issues need the cooperation of all of us," Major General Nguyen Hong Son expressed. He also said that the Walk for Agent Orange victims program aims to spread the desire to live, the spirit of overcoming fate, and rising up in the lives of Agent Orange victims.
On this occasion, the organizers and sponsors presented 40 savings books to 40 families with Agent Orange victims in difficult circumstances (VND 10 million/book). In addition, 20 gifts (each worth VND 1 million) and 5 wheelchairs were also given to Agent Orange victims.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hon-5000-nguoi-tham-gia-di-bo-vi-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-185250810114912127.htm
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