Efforts Made to Care for AO Victims

The Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin (AO) Victims in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho held a meeting on August 4 to mark the day for AO victims (August 10). During the event, 83 scholarships worth 5VND00,000 ($23) each were gifted to children from local AO victim families and VND3-million ($142) loans were provided to 12 poor households. Donors also presented two houses valued at VND32 million ($1,500) each to impoverished AO victim families together with 25 wheelchairs. As many as 2,705 local AO victims are currently enjoying preferential policies and support, accounting for 61.4% of the total victims. A fund for the victims in the locality has also raised over VND20 billion ($1.5 million) for assistance initiatives. In the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, the provincial Association for AO Victims plans to present 4,800 gifts to local sufferers. The association has raised over VND5.6 billion ($256,700) this year towards providing 13,000 gifts to victims along with 26 houses, 26 scholarships and 60 wheelchairs. The association also facilitates regular care for nearly 200 children from AO victim families. There are about 10,000 AO victims living in Tien Giang. Almost the victims live in difficult circumstances and need helps from the community. (Vietnamplus.vn Aug 5)