Vietnam – Belgium Friendship Association: Lest we forget the victims of Agent Orange!

As time goes by, 50 years after the tragedies of war, no one can forget the terrible sufferings that the country and the people of Vietnam have experienced.

Regardless of events, declarations, sometimes agreements and conventions; despite admissions, apologies, pleas for forgiveness or reconstruction assistance, we must not forget all these tragedies. Furthermore, we must continue this work with humanity in order to maintain, day after day, the flame of Memory.

Delegate of the Vietnam – Belgium Friendship Association visit Dong Nai Association for Victims of Agent Orange (Photo: Song Thao)

This Living Memory and this basic condition will make it possible to build a livable future for future generations. For many years, the friendship and solidarity between our nations have endured. Today, like yesterday, we must work to strengthen and nurture it relentlessly in every way possible.

I cannot ignore our resolute commitment to remembering the women, men and children who are victims of "Agent Orange", which I have presented in a document to the Belgian Parliament, and with all the weapons used in this war, the endless source of so much terror.

I will also reiterate our unwavering solidarity with those who, generation after generation, carry the wounds of those weapons. I am deeply moved and full of compassion when I recall my visit to the “Friendship Village” a few years ago.

Knowing the past and still keeping it in memory is essential to building a better world; a world of peace and unity among peoples; a habitable world of people born after us.

Andre Flahaut

President of the Belgium Chamber of Representatives

Brussels, January 24, 2023.

Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association supports AO victims in Dong Nai

On March 1, the Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association, led by Mr. Grega Pierre Emlile J, President of the Association, visited and worked with the Dong Nai Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. The delegation was welcome and received by Ms. Dao Nguyen, President of the Dong Nai Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and the Provincial Standing officials.

According to Mr. Grega Pierre Emlile J, Belgian people always pay attention to Vietnam, including the AO victims. In the coming time, the Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association will continue to support the Vietnamese AO victims. On this occasion, the Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association donated 1,100 Euros and 10.8 million VND to Dong Nai Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxins.

It is worth noting that in the past time, the Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association has had many activities to support the AO victims as well as the VAVA at all levels. Particularly in Dong Nai, from 2020 to 2022, the Association provided monthly allowances to 4 AO victims with a total amount of 43.2 million VND. Particularly, Ms. Do Thi Chuong Dai, a member of the Association with Belgium nationality, provided private subsidy for 1 refugee from 2018 to 2022 with the amount of 16.4 million VND.

At the reception, Ms. Dao Nguyen, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange, expressed her thank and handed over the certificate of gratitude to the leaders of the Association and Ms. Do Thi Chuong Dai for their positive supports for the AO victims. Nguyen said: Dong Nai province currently has more than 8,000 AO victims living in difficulty. They are suffering from severe physical and mental pain. Over the past time, Vietnam and Dong Nai province have implemented many programs to deal with the Agent Orange disaster, supporting AO victims and their families, including the participation of international organizations. Therefore, Dong Nai Association for Victims of Agent Orange hopes that the Vietnam - Belgium Friendship Association will continue to accompany Vietnam and Dong Nai province to overcome the Agent Orange disaster and support AO victims.