Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche visits and presents gifts to Agent Orange victims in Ho Chi Minh City

During his working trip to two southern provinces (Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City) from July 22-24, Mr. Karl Van Den Bossche, Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam, together with the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City (VAVA HCM) visited victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at Hoa Binh Village - Tu Du Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City).

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche and Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son - President of VAVA HCM presented flowers and gifts to representatives of Hoa Binh village, Tu Du Hospital.

The delegation included Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son (President of VAVA HCM), Ms. Tran To Nga (former reporter of Liberation News Agency ) - who devoted her life to fighting against chemical companies that produced Agent Orange/dioxin used by the US military in Vietnam from 1961 to 1971. Ms. Tran To Nga (member of the delegation) is a shining symbol of the fight for justice for Vietnamese victims of dioxin.

According to Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche, Belgium is a small country, the first country in the world to suffer chemical warfare in World War I, so it understands the pain caused by war, especially chemical warfare. Belgium is also the first country in the world whose National Assembly passed a Resolution supporting victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Mr. Karl Van Den Bossche's working trip and activities this time are also the process to realize this Resolution of Belgium.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche talks with an Agent Orange victim.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche wishes to work with Vietnam to overcome the consequences of toxic chemicals (Agent Orange/dioxin) that the environment and people of Vietnam have had to endure for many years, although the war has been over for more than 50 years, the pain is still there.

He said: “Coming here, I was very moved. Each visit to each victim's family was a different situation, different emotions, but in general, it was understanding, sympathy and sharing with the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. This is also the motivation that motivated me to want to do 'something' for them, to cooperate with Vietnam to remove all the toxins remaining in the soil and in the environment where this poison was sprayed, contributing to easing the 'Agent Orange pain' that the Vietnamese people have, are and will continue to suffer.”

During the Vietnam War, from 1961 to 1971, US forces in Operation Ranch Hand sprayed nearly 80 million liters of herbicides in South Vietnam, 61% of which was Agent Orange containing at least 366 kg of dioxin, the most toxic substance known to man.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche and members of the delegation took a souvenir photo with Mr. Nguyen Duc - who was separated in Vietnam's first twin surgery (1988).

Since the first International Conference on Agent Orange Victims in 2006, the public has become more aware of the dangers of Agent Orange/dioxin to humans and the environment. 50 years have passed since Agent Orange was first used in Vietnam, and many countries around the world, including Belgium, have joined hands to help, improve the lives and accompany victims of Agent Orange/dioxin through practical and feasible projects in Vietnam.

Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche's visit and gratitude to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin at Hoa Binh village, Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City this time contributed to another beautiful gesture demonstrating the friendship between Vietnam and Belgium.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-karl-van-den-bossche-tham-va-tang-qua-cho-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-tai-tp-ho-chi-minh-322292.html