The Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims in the central city of Danangon April 14 presented three houses worth VND123 million ($5,693) to poor local AO victims’ families in the hope of helping them improve their living conditions. Le Thi Huong, a beneficiary in Huong Lam village, Hoa Khuong commune, expressed her happiness as the association not only helped her build a new house, but is also assisting her family with stable employment. Huong’s family has three children, including two affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin. Danangis one of the country’s dioxin contamination hotspots. According to Nguyen Thi Hien, Chairwoman of the Danang association, the city currently has more than 5,000 direct AO victims and more than 1,400 children affected second-hand by the chemicals. Many live in poverty. During the past five years, the association has raised more than VND5 billion ($231,450) for AO victims in the city. (Vietnamplus.vn Apr 15)
