Participants in a discussion on the effect of Agent Orange (AO) organised in Washington DC on January 6 said that US assistance for AO victims in Vietnam so far are ‘insufficient’ and ‘at a minimum’ level.

"The problem of Agent Orange never really goes away" and "dioxin is continuing to damage lives in Vietnam, not only for those exposed to it during the war, but for their children and grandchildren", said Paul Glastris, Editor in Chief of the Washington Monthly which together with the New America Foundation held the discussion.

According to Glastris, the US has taken the ‘first move’ in co-operation with Vietnam in addressing the legacy of Agent Orange so far and therefore ‘the two countries should negotiate in this field’.

He noted that the special report in the January, February issue of the Washington Monthly magazine "highlights the new developments and make the case for finally doing what we should have done years ago, which is to offer humanitarian aid to Vietnam for those whose are suffering from the effects of Agent Orange and offer Vietnam veterans care to all whose served".

For Michael F. Martin, a Ph.D. in Asian affairs of the Congressional Research Service, who visited Vietnam several times to study Agent Orange issues, shared the the view of Glastris that assistance for Agent Orange victims in Vietnam so far are ‘insufficient’. He said that more fund would be needed for Vietnam to address the long-acting toxin that is still damaging lives in Vietnam , adding that a number of American MPs wished to push the issue in the coming time.

Alan B. Oates, National Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said: "For the Agent Orange issues in Vietnam, I don’t feel that the US government is properly taking care of those issues in regard to taking care of those people who are impacted by Agent Orange."
He wished to send his messages to Agent Orange victims and Vietnamese people who suffer that "I am sorry and I pray that they will be taken care of".

Relating to Vietnam 's co-ordination with the US in addressing the Agent Orange issue in Vietnam , Charles Bailey, Director of Ford Foundation, said: "The government of Vietnam and the government of the US have come increasingly into ways of co-operating to find solutions for both Agent Orange effecting people of Vietnam and to stop further exposure from contaminating places in Vietnam . I think it is beginning and more need to be done and the leaders of the two countries intend to do more. I think sharing information, learning together and starting with easy parts, building confidence and touching harder part later."

He said that "many Americans felt sad" for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims and therefore people of the two countries should work together to give more resources for the victims.

For Rick Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America's Executive Director for Policy and Government Affairs, "dioxin damages the chromozone in the cell as it passes through. Dioxin may manifest in the individuals, it may manifest in their children, it may manifest in their children’s children, it passes down through the family. That is the most concerned to our members right now."

Other participants in the discussion, which was attended by nearly 100 scholars, researchers, American veterans and reporters, highlighted new studies relating the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam as well as in other countries. They all said that Agent Orange issues have so far received improper concern and addressing. (VNA)