THE STATE OF VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE IN VIETNAM, THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT'S APPLICABLE POLICIES AND COMMUNITIES’ ASSISTANCE

1. CONSEQUENCES OF CHEMICAL WAR

This is the largest chemical warfare in human history, as well as the first war of ecological destruction. Consequences of this war have been very serious and prolonged. For the ecological environment, the damages can be up to 100 years before it can be recovered. Toxins have caused several serious diseases, genetic damages for many generations (possibly up to the 5th generation). Several families have been deprived of right to have offspring to continue their existence.

The war has ended 48 years ago but several hot spots of dioxin still exist, (according to information from the u.s. side, there may be up to 28 places) and continues minutely and daily affecting their residents' health. The overcoming of these consequences for the people of Vietnam is both a long-term and an urgent task.

2. ORGANIZATION OF VIETNAM ASSOCIATION FOR VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN

1. VICTIMS' STATUS

According to calculations by scientists headed by Dr. Stellman of the Columbia University of the United States, there were about 4.8 million people in Vietnam who were exposed to toxic substances. According to Vietnamese scientists out of this number, there are at least 3 million people who become its victims, of whom women accounted for about 34%, and men - 66%. Out of the victimized households, 85% having two victims, 3% of households - five victims, some of them - up to 15 ones.

According to calculations made by a local authorities, wherein there have been 34,650 victims. So far, 6.460 of them have died (19%). Classified by ages, 80% are 60 and over 20% are under 60.

Among the 2^nd generation, children born by the victims of Agent Orange, 19% of them are male and 38% are female.

Among the 3^rd generation, 2,9% of the grandchildren of the victims, who are infected with toxic, male accounts for 59%, and female 41%.

There have been some cases where great-grandchildren of the victims of Agent Orange effected by toxic substance but without particular statistic.

Living conditions of the victimized families are very difficult. The poor account for 50 - 60%.

2. THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN IN VIETNAM

The Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam was established with the permission of the Ministry of Interior on Dec. 17, 2003. It now is composed of 58 provincial level chapters (92%), 404 district level chapters (60.2% ), 3.635 communal level chapters (35%). Since its establishment, the material and mental life of the victims have been greatly improved; the relationship between victims in Vietnam and their international friends has been increasingly strengthened.

3. DISEASES AND DISEASE GROUPS IN CONNECTION WITH AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN EXPOSURE

3-1. Summary of diseases related to dioxin exposure:

The dioxin residues in the environment are still very high in the former airbases of the u.s military and Saigon forces which were used as a place for transit of toxic chemicals such as Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Phu Cat airbases. Their contamination still continues to penetrate into the human bodies in many ways, especially through food chain such as vegetables, fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, meat, eggs, and wild animals.

Based on their extent, condition and history of exposure, people may be divided into those cases with acute exposure and long-termed exposure. Long-termed exposure is connected with people who were directly sprayed and are continuing to live in the sprayed areas. Those who were exposed to dioxin in the past or are at the present and were also impacted by some 70 other toxins used by the u.s. in Vietnam are present in both groups as described above.

From the 80s of the 20^th Century to the present day, thanks to the advances of chemical analysis devices and methods of research, scientists worldwide have been promoting in-depth studies on the mechanism of invasion of dioxin into the human bodies, the biological mechanism of action of dioxin at cellular and molecule extent.

Various foreign scientists, such as those from the u.s, Russia, Germany, Japan ... have collaborated with the National Committee to Investigate the Consequences of Toxic Chemicals Used by the u.s. During the Vietnam War (Committee 10-80) in quantifying the dioxin residues that are existing in the environmental samples, such as in soil and sludge, in the biological samples and in samples of blood, fat and milk of people living in the area that had been sprayed with toxic chemicals/dioxin.

Dioxin and its long-termed effects on human body is a matter to be studied systematically in the world as well as in our country. The results showed that dioxin can play an important role in generating gene mutations and chromosome, which lead to birth defects, and reproductive alterations. The findings by the u.s. Institute of Medicine were published in the book titled "Veterans and Agent Orange."

3.2 The Ministry of Health of Vietnam has promulgated the Decision 09 to fix the list of diseases and malformations related to exposure to toxic chemicals/ dioxin that includes:

1. Soft tissue sarcoma
2. . Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
3. . Hodgkin's lymphoma
4. Bronchial - lung cancer
5. Tracheal cancer
6. Larynx cancer
7. Prostate cancer
8. Primary liver cancer
9. Malignant multiple myeloma disease (Lahler's disease)

(10 Acute and sub acute peripheral neuropathy

11. Spina bifida
12. Chloracne
13. Type 2 diabetes
14. Porphyria cutanea tarda
15. Abnormal births
16. Deformities, congenital malformations (for children of people infected with dioxin)
17. Mental disorders

The above list of diseases pronounced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Vietnam is basically similar to that of the u.s Institute of Medicine. The difference that should be highlighted is that while the IOM recognizes leukemia disease but refutes the connection of Agent Orange with primary liver cancer, and downs play reproductive abnormalities and congenital malformations that Vietnam's MOH recognizes.

In the lists of diseases announced by the MOH of Vietnam and the IOM, phenomena of immune deficiency syndrome, health weakening syndrome and endocrine damage suffered by victims of Agent Orange were not mentioned. These syndromes, however, have been confirmed by various scientists, including those of Vietnam and the United States.

Several international and Vietnamese scientists stated that the toxic chemicals/dioxin which the u.s. used in Vietnam are likely to cause diversified and complicate damages to human health, to every physiological organs of our body: cancer, skin lesions, liver, thyroid, diabetes mellitus; and in varying degrees injure respiratory, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, neurological, reproductive, hereditary, immune, blood systems and blood forming organs.

A recent study of the Military Medical Academy of Vietnam has identified the frequency of attracting internal illness in a sick body is 1.73 per person, in which depression accounts for 18.67%, nervous breakdown - 10, 67%, gastro-duodenal diseases - 11.67%, anemia - 4%, cancer - 3.3% (high rate). Frequency of specialized diseases is 2.07 per person. Those diseases that have high incidence are keratitis 11,33%, trachoma -15% , chronic pharyngitis - 19%, chronic rhinitis - 17.33%.

In another study conducted on descendants of victims, who suffer mental illness account for about 46%, polio - 23%, birth defects - about 22%, of whom, persons with more than 3 diseases account for 2%, with 3 diseases - 7%, with 2 diseases - 25%, with one disease - 68%. Among them, 68% may conduct self-service, 32% may not.

In general, through studies on animals, and the results of surveys to assess the risk of health effects of dioxin on humans, all the scientific organizations concerned have agreed:

• That dioxins penetrate into human body mainly through contaminated food. This accounts for over 95%.
• The rate of gastrointestinal absorption of dioxin depends on the pollutants existing in our everyday foods accounts for 50%, and in the substances like fat and oil about 80-86%.
• The understanding of the way of dioxin emissions through researches done on animals and humans showed that dioxin is discharged from the bodies of the warm-blooded animals and humans through the following lines: gastrointestinal, urinary, mammary, and respiratory tracts, of which gastrointestinal tract plays the most significant role.

4. DIOXIN IN THE BODIES OF VICTIMS

Dioxin, a deadly poison that may kill human beings with ppb dosage, and the allowable dose accepted by the World Health Organization is 1-4pg/kg/day and night. Presently, dioxin exists in blood and adipose tissue of its victims living in the hot spots is still found with high levels.

In the hot spots of Bien Hoa and Da Nang in 2000, dioxin levels in the blood of the victims remain from 1.4 to 413ppt. According to its rule, by 2010, these levels should be reduced from 1 - 10ppt. In fact, this is not so. They still remain higher than those found in the residents of non-hot spots such as Quang Tri.

The victims who were exposed during the war in South Vietnam but presently still reside in these contaminated regions, are still found with higher levels of dioxin in blood than other victims who were exposed in South Vietnam during the war but returned to North Vietnam after the war was over. The later's blood is presently free from any trace of dioxin.

5. HEALTH SITUATION OF THE VICTIMS

a/ The old-aged persons respond to a high proportion of victims who were former participants in the U.S resistance war: 2.4% are 48 or under; 63% are between 48 - 65; 16.9 % are 66 to 70, 19.14% are 70 or older.

Due to prolonged illnesses, older age and poverty, most of them may earn only low incomes while having to raise children with deformities. This is the reason why their health conditions so much diminished. According to the latest statistics (2010) made by a project designed for giving collective medical treatment to 300 victims, there have been nobody who has health condition of Category I and Category II groups; 25% of them belong to Category III; 67.3% belong to Category IV and 7.7% - category V.

b/ According to a statistics collected 10 years ago, the number of victims' children was about 170,000. Of whom female ones accounted for 43%; the number of victims' grand children is about 4,500. Of whom female ones accounted for 20%; 19-38 years-old group of their children held the highest place with about 44%, 6-15 years-old group of their grandchildren accounted for highest rate, 55%.

6. POLICY ISSUES FOR VICTIMS

Presently, the problems of health care for the victims are well concerned by the State, the Party and the people of Vietnam.

The Party Central Committee's Secretariat, the National Assembly and the Government of Vietnam have issued various instructions, notices, ordinances, decrees and decisions on the policies applied to the victims of Agent Orange / dioxin in Vietnam, in which the victims of Agent Orange who are former war participants are entitled to the enjoy the common policies applied to the meritorious persons with two levels of pensions: people of Level 1 is entitled to enjoy VND2,005,000 million per month, people of Level 2 enjoy VND1,452,000 million per month. The children of these people also enjoy monthly allowance by two levels, Level 1 is VND876.000, Level 2 - VND 491,000.

For non-former war fighters who are victims are entitled to enjoy social securities designed for the poor. For families with 2 or more victims are entitled to enjoy monthly benefit that increases to respond to the number of victims. Annually, the state has spent about $50 million to support the victims. There are about 1 million people who benefit this provision.

The victims and their families, especially those belong to poorer category who are not yet entitled to regular allowance are having several opportunities to enjoy support extended by domestic and foreign donors through work of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and other charitable NGOs or through direct contact.

Through VAVA in the past 6 years since its establishment on Dec. 31,2010, our victims have enjoyed a support equivalent to about VND 240 billion VND (USD 11 millions), of which $ 1.3 million have come from foreigners from all continents.

7. HEALTH CARE ISSUES:

The Government of Vietnam with the help of certain foreign non-government organizations has built 17 nursing and rehabilitation centers for victims of the entire country known as the Peace Village, Friendship Village, Orange Village, and boarding facilities etc. and it is building dozens of other nursing centers.

The Government of Vietnam (GOV) has also built many care centers for war victims, including victims of Agent Orange, the South Korean Government has invested in building such a center in Quang Nam.

VAVA in collaboration with the University of Public Health held a successful conference on rehabilitation expected for the victims in the local communities. This University is undertaking projects to provide rehabilitation benefits for victims' right in their local communities of Dong Nai, Quang Ngai and Thai Binh.

8. PROVIDING HOUSES OF PASSION-AND-LOVE, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AIDING VICTIMS TO FIND JOBS
9. VAVA has so far developed a five- years program to assist Agent Orange victims, from 2009 to 2013, totaling about VND 63 billions (about $3 millions). This program is designed to provide 55 semi-boarding facilities, 550 houses of passion-and-love, 1.100 scholarships (each worth VND3 millions) and to help find 1100 jobs (each worth VND 5 millions). By now the plan to get 63 billions has been fulfilled. Construction works are being carried out at specific addresses.

From 2004 to date, according to incomplete statistics, our association has galvanized more than 240 billions ($ 11 millions). Out of this amount, 68 billions ($7.8 millions) have been spent (with about 7, 4 billions or $342.000 for building a certain number of daily care centers; 37 billions or $1.7 million for the construction of 1,531 passion-and-love houses; 1.5 billions or $69.000 for finding 298 jobs; over 2.3 billions or $108.000 for providing 771 scholarships; 31.5 billions or $1.5 million for providing production capitals, and health care; 47.4 billions or $2.2 millions for offering 158,000 holidays gifts to the Vietnamese victims; 40.8 billions or $1.9 millions in kinds given directly to victims

The said assistance extended by the state, our people and friends has been highly appreciated. However, it is still yet far from adequate to offset the consequences that our victims are suffering.

The u.s authorities and chemical companies - persons who should be responsible for the said consequences are still evading their accountability while beginning to pay an extremely limited concern. Now, annually the u.s. Government is going to spend billions and tens of billions of dollars (in 2010 was 13.5 billions) to compensate the u.s. victims. Meanwhile, it only advocates to give out $1 million for providing medical care to the victims in Vietnam at Da Nang hot spot. This is an extremely unfair behavior that does not show any trace of good will and far from meeting the requirement written in the 21^st Article of the Paris Agreement that it signed.

10. ORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR VICTIMS

In addition to regular treatment for victims by health care organizations across the country, in its 2005 - 2010 plan, the Committee 33 on Overcoming Consequences of Toxins Used by the u.s. During the Vietnam War has permitted the Military Hospital 103 to medically treat 300 patients selected out from 5.000 victims in the provinces of Dong Nai, Da Nang and Thai Binh. The results have been rated good for our victims

Our VAVA chapter in Thai Binh Province with the support extended by the Asia-Pacific Able has well organized the treatment for 60 victims by sauna (Hubbard methodology) to remove toxins for their bodies.

Those who participated in the first round of detoxification are recuperating well. This detoxification project for victims that has really obtained good results is being expanded and growing. Also in Thai Binh Province, the Viet-Russia Tropical Centre has used peptide products for purpose of biological regulation in treatment of victims.

These products had been used for space travelers in the former Soviet Union (Russian Federation today). The treatment is particularly effective for victims with prostate enlargement.

11. MENTAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF VICTIMS

The Central Committee of VAVA has organized two first studies on mental and physiological conditions of victims living in Binh Duong and Thua Thien Hue, where a great number of victims are residing. Audience of surveys in Binh Duong are Kinhs and in Aluoi of Thua Thien Hue, ethnic people.

To assess the mental and nervous stress generated during doing jobs due to work pressure, influence of harmful environments and of natural disasters, and consequences of war legacy, following tests were made on the Agent Orange victims:

• For assessing victims' ability to memorize and rememorize. The survey of 290 persons showed that among those who might have only short-term memory, 6.55% were excellent, good and rather good - about 36%, while 20.70% were low rated

- For assessing victims' ability to change and move attention. When assessing the ability of 290 persons to move the amount of attention, it was found that the low rated occupied a very high rate, about 88.97%.

• For assessing victims' depression (Beck tests) of 290 persons, it was found that 89.56% of tested subjects were normal, 6.55% were of light depression, 3.80% were rated moderate. Nobody was suffering serious depression.
• For assessing the state of anxiety of 290 persons. After conducting Zung tests on these subjects, it was found that 82.41% were normal, 16.55% were lightly anxious and 1.04% were moderately anxious.

- The symptoms of stress relaxation inability to 47.8% in men and 50.3% in women. The symptoms of nausea and breathing difficulties often manifest in the victims, but higher in women (56%).

When studying psychological symptoms among residents living in Dong Son (Aluoi District, Thua Thien Hue Province) where most of residents were ethnic people and was a hotspot of Agent Orange dioxin, people found that most common symptoms were manifestations of auto-nervous excitements, such as nervous palpitations, sweating, trembling limbs. These symptoms accounted for 69.1%, followed by a number of symptoms associated with such mental states as general fear, fear of illness, fear of death - 57.7%.

Proportion of people living in areas previously sprayed who had any understanding of chemical warfare was nearly 90%. Men had higher number than women did. Conversely, the number of people who understood the policies applied to the victims of Agent is very low, only at 24.1%. Of whom only about 3% correctly understood the policies.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS

In short, the disaster caused by Agent Orange in Vietnam is very serious and last­ing. The victims of this chemical in Vietnam constitute a large community with millions of people with long years of war experience. They are formed into the poorest class of the society. Most of these households have at least two victims, while a particular case has up to 15 victims. Several families have been subjected to possibility of having no one to succeed. Many people are now living in loneliness and helplessness.

Under these circumstances, the Party, state and mass organizations in Vietnam, depending on each one's functions and ability, have actively participated in activities for overcoming the effects of chemical war on ecological environments and human beings. All the people of Vietnam who have tried hard to promote one of our national tradition - to love others as to love ourselves - are working to contribute their parts in easing the pain caused by Agent Orange.

Many benefactors across the continents have come to the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam with fellow love. Many alien veterans who had fought in Vietnam have come with sense of redemption. They all are making contributions, in collaboration with Vietnam, to help victims both physically and mentally and to accompany them in the struggle for justice.

In recent years, the u.s. administrations have adopted certain changes in their perception of the consequences of chemical war, caused by the u.s to Vietnam. Consequently, they have made initial moves to show their responsibility in working together with Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of chemical warfare

Under the said situation, we would like to propose the following points:

(1) We call upon all the organizations and donors in the country and in the world to continue to help, mentally and materially, the victims of Agent Orange and to accompany them in the struggle for justice.

(2) We urge the Government of Vietnam to conduct additional researches and to perfect the policies applied to the victims with accelerated pace of providing assistance to them.

• To design a national program for providing medical care for victims of Agent Orange;
• To start the construction of three hospitals (or three treatment departments), one in the North, one in the Center and another in the South. Each will have a center for providing victims with reproductive advices;
• To start the construction of three national centers, one in the North, one in the Center and another in the South, for providing nursing and rehabilitation services to lonely and helpless victims.
• To start developing centers for non-specific detoxification where such detoxification by sauna vaporization (Hubbard method) and certain other methods are applied, after completing clinical research and getting permission from the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.
• To require the u.s authorities and chemical companies to show their responsibility in dealing with Agent Orange issue, particularly with Vietnamese victims who have to suffer greater, more serious and longer consequences.

In order to realize these recommendations, the victims of toxic chemicals should be more closely united, should form an international front for helping each other in daily life activities and in the struggle for their justice.

"Let's join hands in overcoming consequences of Agent Orange disaster"; "Let's unite in the struggle for eliminating chemical weapons.