The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) has called on Vietnamese people and international friends to support AO victims in their lives and fight for justice.

Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims

In an appeal VAVA made on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the use of AO in Vietnam (August 10,1961 – August 10, 2011), the association asked the US to accept responsibility for damages to Vietnamese people.

It requested Down Chemicals, Monsanto and other US chemical companies who provided toxic chemicals to US troops for use during the war in Vietnam to admit their mistakes and ask themselves whether they should be represented in Vietnam or not when they have not yet compensated Vietnamese people.

VAVA took the occasion to hail Vietnamese people and international friends’ good sentiments and activities for AO victims.

Helping and supporting Vietnamese AO victims and victims of chemical weapons in the world also contribute to the cause of protecting long-term justice and long-lasting peace on earth, the association said.

According to the VAVA, US forces sprayed the defoliant Agent Orange that contained the toxic dioxin on more than 3 million ha of forests, paddy fields and almost 26,000 hamlets and villages during a 10-year period beginning on August 10th, 1961.

Nearly 5 million Vietnamese people were exposed to dioxin and 3 million suffer from health problems due to the exposure.