Agent Orange tear

II. Joining hand to alleviate the pain

Resolving the consequences of Agent Orange, healing the wounds of war are both the responsibility and the conscience and morality of today\'s generation for those who have fought and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. This is an urgent and long-term issue that requires the sharing and responsibility of each level of the Party committee, Party organization, administration, cadres and party members throughout the political system and the people. Over the past time, under the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, many activities to support victims have been implemented synchronously and effectively, thereby contributing to alleviating the pain, so that there are no more Agent Orange \"tears\".

Deeds of love and affection

Serving in army for more than 10 years with 2 years fighting in the southern battlefield, the wounded soldier Tran Dang Ninh (born in 1947) in zone 10, Vinh Lai commune, Lam Thao district is now old and weak, living in poor conditions. In 1976, he was demobilized, returned to the locality, got married and had 4 children, which is luckier than many of his comrades. But his misfortune came when the older his eldest daughter gets, the more severe her mental disorder becomes. His youngest son died of illness at the age of 23. His level 4 house built in 1982 has deteriorated with a leaky roof and cracked walls that can collapse at any time. He spent all his effort and money on treating his sick children, but all went to waste. Now, he and his wife are both over 70 years old but they still have to support their mentally ill daughter and a fatherless grandchild with an amount of more than 4 million VND he gets from allowance for war invalids and AO victim. Realizing his pity plight, in 2016, Lam Thao district\'s Association for Victims of Agent Orange lent him 6 million VND without interest for 2 years to invest in livestock. He used this money and the capital he borrowed from his relatives to raise buffalo, geese and pigeons. Every year, he earns about 20 million from selling calf and uses this money to reinvest. As a result, his economy has been gradually recovered and stabilized. Lam Thao district currently has 660 AO victims entitled to monthly allowance, of which 425 people who directly participate in combat are infected with Agent Orange and 235 are the victims\' biological children. Many families with 2-3 people who are Agent Orange victims are carrying dangerous diseases and difficult economic conditions. In order to improve the efficiency of caring for and helping the victims, on average, the Association mobilizes about 40 million VND per year to present gifts to members to encourage and support their members, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, major national holidays and on Agent Orange day (August 10); coordinate in organizing medical examination and providing free medicine for hundreds of victims. Currently, each commune has generated a fund of 800,000 VND/member to lend money to rural communities to develop family economy. Every year, the district\'s Fund for victims of Agent Orange provides free-interest-2-year loans to nearly 50 members. The total amount of loans to its members so far has reached nearly 300 million VND.

Although it is not recognized as a specific association like in Lam Thao district, in the past 10 years, Phu Ninh district\'s Association for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin has also mobilized organizations and individuals to donate for the victim’s accommodation of 30 to 50 million VND/house. Along with that, the Association also provides 4,000 gifts to members and victims every holiday, Tet and medical examination for hundreds of people. Over the past 5 years, movements and campaigns have been implemented synchronously by associations at all levels from the province to the grassroots level with practical effectiveness, attracting more and more agencies, units, businesses, and organizations, benefactors, all classes of people inside and outside the province. Thereby, the benevolent tradition of \"Repaying gratitude\" and \"Drinking water, remember the source\" have been promoted to alleviate the pain of the victims. Commune-level associations and branches focus on developing funds contributed by members for helping the victims. Over the years, thanks to its flexible implementation in advocacy work, the Association has attracted many agencies and units such as: Trade Union of the Provincial Party Committees of Agencies, Trade Union of the Provincial banks, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Health, the Provincial Public Security, the Provincial Veterans Association, the Provincial Youth Union.... Since 2015 to date, the whole province has spent over 18.3 billion VND visiting and giving gifts to the victims. Along with that, the Association also supported the renovation of 19 houses with total value of more than 1.1 billion VND, donated 220 wheelchairs, lent more than VND 2 billion for 290 victim families with low or no interest for economic development, overcoming poverty; conducted 4,660 medical examinations and provided free medicine with a total value of more than VND 1 billion.

Humanity\'s wish

It is undeniable the efforts to ensure the rights and take care of the lives of Agent Orange victims demonstrated through the practical and effective work of the AO/Dioxin Associations at all levels in the province over the past time. However, in reality, these activities still have many difficulties and limitations, not responding to the wishes of the members. The Thanh Son District Association for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxins is one of the eight district-level organizations that are not recognized as specific associations. Therefore, members of the Association work without monthly allowance like the recognized ones. Ms. Ha Thi Lien - Chairwoman of Thanh Son District\'s Association for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxins expressed that: \"Because it is not recognized as a special association, all activities of the Association face many difficulties, especially in mobilizing support resources. Even the development of new members has not reached the target; many commune-level branches have not been able to develop new members. The implementation of tasks of associations at all levels is still monotonous; some branches lack the initiative, only rely on the direction and guidance of their superiors. As for the Lam Thao District Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, although it is recognized as a special association, after 11 years of operation, the Association has yet to build its office. Moreover, for many years now, the district\'s fund for AO victims has been handed over to the Red Cross. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung - Chairman of Lam Thao District\'s Association proposed: \"In 2007, the Provincial Fund for AO victims was handed over from the Provincial Red Cross to the Provincial Association for AO victims. So the district level should follow suit. We hope that our district association is allowed to manage this sponsorship fund to make it more favorable for advocacy and support activities for the victims.”

According to the assessment of the Provincial Association for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the collaboration of a number of localities, agencies and units with the Associations for victims of AO/Dioxin in organizing activities is still slow and inconsistent. After decentralization, a number of associations, although fully qualified, have yet to converted their branches into commune-level associations according to Decree 45 of the Government. There are still some districts and 136 communes, wards and townships that have not created conditions for the associations to advocate for victims. Up to now, there are still 4 district associations and 175 commune-level associations that have not yet supported with operational fund; 188 commune-level associations that still operate without an office. The overlap in the advocacy for support for the victims among agencies and associations is going against the regulations because since 2007, the Provincial People\'s Committee has issued written document providing for the Provincial Association for victims of Agent Orange/dioxins to manage the AO/dioxin fund. The roles and responsibilities of a number of full-time members of the Association in advising and proposing to the Party Committee and authorities to direct the implementation of regimes and policies for the victims are still ineffective; their capability and experience are still limited.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Quynh - Chairman of the Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin suggested that the Government soon amend and supplement a number of articles of Decree No. 45/2010/NĐCP dated April 21, 2010 or promulgate a law for community associations for the localities to implement because Decree 45 of the Government is no longer appropriate. The Government also needs to amend and supplement sub-law documents related to regimes and policies for people with meritorious services who are AO victims, especially policies for the third-generation victims participants who have yet to be entitled to any subsidy.

The Government needs to consider and supplement the regime for those serving the children of resistance activists that have been infected with toxic chemicals and lost working capacity by 81% or more; at the same time, re-assess the disease status for those who are resistance activists infected with toxic chemicals with working capacity reduced to less than 61%, because the older they get, the more diseases they suffer.