The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin (VAVA) and Cambodia’s sponsoring association for post-war victims hope to sign a coordination program soon to define basic principles, targets, and measures to jointly help AO victims in the respective countries. In the near future, the two sides will coordinate in surveying consequences of the chemical wars as well as the number and situation of Vietnamese and Cambodian AO/Dioxin victims, while promoting experience exchanges and calling for international support in the field. During a meeting in Hanoi on August 25, VAVA President Nguyen Van Rinh and Honorary President of the Cambodian sponsoring association for post-war victims Seang Bun Leang said both countries experienced a lot of war pains and they are actively addressing the consequences. Seang Bun Leang said his association was set up in June this year with the participation of over 200 members nationwide, and expressed his wish to receive assistance from VAVA in organizing activities to take care of post-war victims as well as those exposed to the toxic chemical. Rinh noted that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/Dioxin. Hundreds of thousands of people died or have grappled with fatal diseases. Since its establishment in 2004, VAVA has raised over VND1 trillion ($46 million) to build caring, rehabilitation and vocational training centers for the victims. The association has good relations with over 500 organizations and individuals of 30 countries worldwide. It has sent 65 delegations abroad, including nine to the US to call for support and seek justice for the victims. Besides carrying out a new lawsuit in the US , the association is actively supporting Vietnamese-French AO Tran To Nga in her lawsuit in France against 26 US chemical companies. The same day, VAVA received JPY100,000 from the Association of Japanese people loving Vietnam to support Vietnamese AO/Dioxin victims. (Vietnamplus.vn Aug 26)
