Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc presents 50 charity houses to AO victims and VNĐ500 million to the centre for nursing and providing vocational training for AO victims. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc paid a visit to the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) on Wednesday, during which he praised the efforts, activeness and creativity of the association in protecting the rights of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO) victims as well as caring for and supporting them.

To speed up the settlement of consequences of chemicals left by the war and improve living conditions for AO victims, the PM suggested the association continue implementing the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Directive 43 on the strengthening of the Party leadership over settling chemicals’ consequences and the national action programme in the field.

The association should implement the resolution released at its fourth National Congress while working with media agencies to raise public awareness of dioxin disaster in Việt Nam and call society’s support to the struggle to claim justice for AO victims, he said.

He asked the association to continue reforming its operational methods, with a focus on improving the capacity of its officials, while giving consultations and criticism against policies regarding AO victims.

Along with caring for AO victims, the association should work harder to encourage the whole society to help ease dioxin pains for victims, including giving a warm Tết (Lunar New Year) festival to them.

So far, more than VNĐ2.6 trillion (US$112.68 million), including VNĐ370 billion raised in 2020, has been given for AO victims and their families.

Activities to gain justice for AO victims have been implemented in various forms, attracting domestic and international attention.

On the occasion, the PM presented 50 charity houses to AO victims and VNĐ500 million to the centre for nursing and providing vocational training for AO victims. VNS