The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) aims to raise VND1 trillion ($42.9 million) in funds to support Vietnamese AO victims in the 2018-2023 tenure, state media reported. The funds will be used to construct 1,000 houses for victims, grant 3,000 scholarships, and assist 1,000 households for production. The association targets to give wheelchairs to 80% of needy AO victims and New Year gifts to all poor victims. The target was set during the association’s fourth national congress in Hanoi on December 4-5 with the participation of 350 delegates from 63 localities nationwide. Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man called on the state and the whole community to join hands in easing the consequences caused by the U.S.’s toxic chemicals during Vietnam Warthat ended in April 1975. A report at the congress showed that the VAVA raised over VND1.93 trillion in the last 15 years, including VND1.13 trillion for AO victims in the 2013-2018 tenure. At the congress, the delegates elected a 97-member Central Committee of the VAVA, headed by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh. Former State Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh continued to be the Honorary President of the association. (NhanDan, vtv.vn, baotintuc.vn, qdnd.vn, vietnamplus.vn, vtv.vn)
