ESAMO donates money to build houses and provide livelihood support

The delegation included: Mr. Chang Ho Ick, Vice President of Dongwon Group - Vice President of Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Chairman of VESAMO; Dr. Pham Xuan Hung, Vice President of VAVA - Director of the Fund for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Representative of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Mr. Tran Van Quang, President of Hanoi Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and other related agencies and units.

On the morning of June 27, in Ung Hoa district, Hanoi city, support money was given to the family of Mr. Cao Khanh Hoa, 74 years old, in Hoa Duong village, Truong Thinh commune and the family of Mr. Pham Van Vu, 82 years old, in Tu Le village, Kim Duong commune. Both of them are victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, whose children and grandchildren are affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, and family circumstances are very difficult. VESAMO Association gave each family 3,000 USD (equivalent to 78 million VND) to build new houses.

On the afternoon of June 27, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, VESAMO presented livelihood support to 10 families of AO victims, each family received 10 million VND. On this occasion, the Hanoi Association of AO victims/dioxin also presented livelihood support to 5 families of AO victims, each family received 10 million VND.

Mr. Chang Ho Ick, Chairman of VESAMO, expressed at the ceremony that: “VESAMO was established in 2002 by Koreans who have special affection for Vietnam, wishing to connect and promote friendship between the people of the two countries. Roughly 10 years ago, when we came to Vietnam, we witnessed the difficult circumstances of many AO victims, and we decided to focus on supporting this distressed group. Since 2017, we have had practical activities, with specific actions such as supporting the construction of Charity Houses. Up to now, 7 houses have been built. Although the number is still small, we hope that this model will be spread, contributing to raising social awareness in Korea and internationally about the pain that Agent Orange victims in Vietnam are suffering. In the coming time, we will continue to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies and organizations to expand activities to support and help more AO victims in Vietnam”.

Dr. Pham Xuan Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin - Director of the Fund, said: “The war has ended for over half a century, but the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin sprayed by the US in Vietnam are still very severe. Hundreds of thousands of victims have died, hundreds of thousands of others are struggling with diseases every day, every hour. Tens of thousands of children are born with deformities, congenital disabilities... The Party and State of Vietnam have paid great attention to overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals after the war and caring for the lives of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, but Victims of Agent Orange and their families still face many difficulties and hardships. The program of donating houses and providing livelihood capital to Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Hanoi today is one of the practical and meaningful activities”. Hung expressed his sincere thanks to VESAMO for its kindness and hopes that VESAMO Association would continue to give more care and help to the Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam. Hung also requested that the Association at all levels and local authorities continue to closely monitor the situation of the supported families, ensuring that the donated resources are used effectively. The households receiving support this time expressed their gratitude for the support of Korean friends. Mr. Trinh Van Phu, a victim of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Ngoc Hoa commune, Chuong My district (now Ngoc Hoa commue), on behalf of the families of victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin receiving the support, expressed his gratitude to VESAMO and hoped that the Association would continue to accompany more families of AO victims, contributing to improving their livelihoods and living conditions.

The activity of donating houses and livelihood capital by the Association of Korean people loving Vietnam to Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Hanoi ended in a joyful, excited, united and trusting atmosphere./.

Chu Ut