sprayed with Agent Orange

Bien Hoa City, April 20, 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Standing Office of the National Committee on the Settlement of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Office 701), signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) that will improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in seven targeted Vietnamese provinces which were sprayed with Agent Orange. Member of the Politburo, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh; Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh; President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh; leaders of ministries, branches and localities, together with Senator Patrick Leahy, Vice Chairman of US Senate Appropriations Committee, Delegates of the US Senate to Vietnam, US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink witnessed the signing ceremony.

Under the memorandum of intent, USAID and the Standing Office 701 will coordinate with the Ministry Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, local organisations and People’s Committees of Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces in providing direct care, improving the capacity of rehabilitation services, and developing social services to better serve people with disabilities in the above provinces. At the signing ceremony, Mr. Michael Greene, Director of USAID in Vietnam said that USAID assistance has benefited millions of persons with disabilities in Vietnam, irrespective of cause. While initial cooperation focused on direct services such as providing assistive devices such as prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs, over the years the partnership has evolved into a new level as building the modern institutional and physical infrastructure needed to help persons with disabilities effectively.

USAID is currently supporting disabled people through 8 projects with the goal of expanding social services and rehabilitation, and improving policies to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Director of USAID Vietnam believes that, with the signing of the Memorandum of Intent on supporting people with disabilities, in the coming time, USAID and Office 701 will further coordinate to approach more needy people. He also expresses his hope in successfully creating a comprehensive care model, achieving the goal of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in Vietnam.

On behalf of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA), Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, President of the Association, highly appreciated the signing of the memorandum with the goal of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in 7 provinces and said that the projects mentioned in the memorandum would partly alleviate the pain of victims of Agent Orange victims, etc.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh assessed that, in recent years, along with the implementation of projects on dealing with bombs, mines, unexploded ordnances and toxic chemicals left behind after the war, the Vietnamese side has cooperated with the United States to provide health care, medical treatment, rehabilitation, orthopedic, social integration support for people with disabilities in some provinces sprayed with Agent Orange.

Currently the number of people with disabilities and victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam is very large. Therefore, these activities are of practical significance, and need to be expanded. In particular, support for people with disabilities, in addition to reducing the burden on the family and society, is a humane activity that also contributes to promoting the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

(According to Chinhphu.vn)