US veteran group visit AO kids in Đà Nẵng

US Ambassador to Việt Nam, Marc Knapper takes part in the visit by the US veteran group at Đà Nẵng City's Association for Victims of Agent Orange centre. VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — A delegation of US veterans and their relatives presented gifts and exchanged with AO children and people with disabilities at the centre for Đà Nẵng City’s Association for Victims of Agent Orange (DAVA) in Hòa Nhơn Commune in Hòa Vang District.

US Ambassador to Việt Nam Marc Knapper also joined the visit.

According to the centre’s managing board, AO children and persons with disabilities have been received donations from donors in Việt Nam and many countries in the world as well as support from the city’s administration.

Members of the US veteran group play basketball with AO children at Đà Nẵng City's Victims of Agent Orange centre in Hoà Vang district. The centre is home to 90 AO-affected children. VNS Photo Công Thành

The centre also provides vocational training courses, like making joss-sticks and cloth flowers, for AO victims in rehabilitation to the community. Currently, 90 AO children and children with disabilities are receiving care from the centre’s staff.

Marc Knapper highly appreciated the co-operation between the US and Việt Nam in dioxin clean-up projects and in providing support to persons with disabilities over past decades.

He said: “The cooperation on addressing legacy issues dates back to even before the nomalisation. It began with Việt Nam’s generous and human efforts to help us locate remains of missing American service members and is continuing now to the United States working with Việt Nam so Việt Nam can account for its own missing from the war, and also in assisting people with disabilities, cleaning up dioxin hotspots, and cleaning up unexploded ordnance.

Two girls with disabilities work at a joss-stick shop in the centre for AO Kids in Đà Nẵng City. Vocational training courses help provide better life and rehabilitation. VNS Photo Công Thành

“Since 1991, the US has spent more than US$150 million assisting individuals with disabilities, regardless of the cause. In terms of dioxin hotspots cleaning, we spent $110 million for cleaning at Đà Nẵng Airport. We are working on another project at Biên Hoà Airbase that 's going to come to about $450 million, $300 million of which is going to be the contribution of the US.”

The US ambassador also stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the US and Việt Nam in dioxin cleaning and assistance to persons with the disabilities on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the nomalisation and diplomatic ties of the two countries.

John Hollis, whose father was an US veteran in Việt Nam in 1965, said he felt so happy to be in the visit to Đà Nẵng and the centre of AO children.

He said children are the future of the world and he hopes to contribute to heal the war and bring bright future to children.

AO-affected children prepare for a lion dance in celebration Mid Autumn Festival at Đà Nẵng City's AO Kids Centre. VNS Photo Công Thành

Đà Nẵng is home to more than 5,000 AO victims, of which 1,400 are children.

Việt Nam still has about 4.8 million people exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin and more than 6 million hectares are still contaminated with mines and explosives. VNS