A Tet of affection in Phu Yen province

In order to help and share with those in difficult circumstances, so that they can enjoy the spring and welcome the Tet of 2024, thousands of gifts have been given to the families of AO victims in Phu Yen province.

Easing the pain together

Like the previous years, before the New Year of 2024, the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at all levels in Phu Yen province actively mobilized organizations and benefactors to help and support the victims to celebrate Tet and enjoy spring in a warm atmosphere.

Recently, teachers and students of Duy Tan High School, Kien A Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) coordinated with the Provincial Association to deploy the New Year Gift program and the Spring Volunteer Campaign to give 800 gifts to AO victims in 9 districts, towns and cities in the province. Mr. Le Nhuong, Vice President of the Duy Tan High School, said: This is the 10th year that the school and Kien A Joint Stock Company have coordinated with the Phu Yen Provincial Association to launch humanitarian activities before the new year, helping families of Agent Orange victims and the families with especially difficult circumstances to enjoy a happy and warm Tet holiday.

Sharing the difficulties, hardships and disadvantages of Agent Orange victims, Mr. Hoang Ngoc Phu, Secretary of the School’s Youth Union, said: “Besides gift-giving, the School’s Youth Union also sent 90 members to participate in the 3-day Spring Volunteer Campaign, helping 800 families of Agent Orange victims in the localities to renovate and decorate their houses. They were very excited and enthusiastic to participate in this humanitarian activity”. Receiving a gift with affection, Mr. Ma Bai in Ba village, Ea Ba commune, Song Hinh district expressed: “Every year when Tet comes, I receive meaningful gifts. I feel very happy and grateful for the attention of authorities and organizations at all levels. Two years ago, on the occassion of Tet holiday, my family also received 70 million VND from the associations at all levels to build a new house and stabilize our living conditions”.

In his youth, Ma Bai volunteered to fight in the Western Phu Yen battlefield. After  the war ended, he returned to his hometown, got married, and had 4 children. 2 of his children were born disabled due to the effects of Agent Orange/dioxin, 1 of whom has passed away. The older he gets, the worse his health becomes; and difficulties never cease to haunt him.

Mrs. Le Thi Ly in My Hoa neighborhood, Hoa Hiep Bac ward, Dong Hoa town, is the daughter of a martyr who died in the resistance war. Her daughter is the 3rd generation victim exposed to Agent Orange who is mute, deaf, and suffers from regular illness, so everything must depend on her thin shoulders. Receiving Tet gifts from kind-hearted people, she was moved: "I sincerely thank you for helping my family prepare for Tet."

Mr. Pham Thu in Chanh Loc village, Xuan Loc commune, Song Cau town has both legs paralyzed due to the Agent Orange disaster caused by the US during the war. He was happy when the town’s AO victims association gave him a wheelchair worth 2.5 million VND and a 500,000 VND gift: “I am very grateful to the association for helping me. With the wheelchair, I feel like I have grown new legs to walk. I don’t have to crawl anymore. I will spend this money during Tet holiday”…

Spreading love

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chien, President of Phu Yen Provincial Association, currently there are as many as 11,380 disabled people and people exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin in the whole province, in which 5,731 people are entitled to the beneficial policies. Most of the victims are old and in poor health. They are the 3rd or 4th generation victims who are descendants of war veterans, born with disabilities or deformities that require care. Many families are in difficulty and poverty... On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of 2024, the Association has presented 900 gifts to Agent Orange victims in the localities, each worth 500,000 VND. In addition, the grassroots associations have also presented Tet gifts to nearly 1,000 families with people infected with Agent Orange/dioxin.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu, President of Dong Xuan District Association, added: “The lives of Agent Orange victims are still very difficult. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of 2024, the Association mobilized philanthropists, officials and civil servants in the district to donate 300 gifts to families of victims in 11 communes and towns with a total value of 150 million VND, contributing to bringing joy to families when Tet comes”. Taking care of Tet for families of policy beneficiaries and AO victims is humanitarian and meaningful work, supported by many organizations and individuals. These practical works are increasingly spread in the community in Phu Yen province./.

Kim Lien