Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh addresses the  program “Joining hands to ease the Agent Orange pain – You’re not alone” in Hanoi, August 10, 2019.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh told the audience that no pain is more miserable than the pain caused by Agent Orange/ dioxin. It’s a pain endured by not only Vietnamese but humankind, he said, noting that Vietnam has mobilized the entire society to engage in resolving AO/dioxin consequences. 

“All AO/dioxin cases should be reviewed so the victims can promptly benefit from the State’s preferential policies. More measures should be taken to mobilize resources to help the victims to guarantee that no one is left behind,” said Mr. Binh.

From 1961 to 1971, the US army sprayed 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, 61 per cent of which was AO that contained at least 366kg of dioxin – one of the most toxic substances ever known in history, on nearly one fourth of the area of Vietnam’s southern region. 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the toxins, and more than 3 million of them were victims. A large number of children were born with deformities. Dioxin made many women infertile and millions of people suffering from serious diseases.