A group of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin arrived in New York on September 28, beginning a tour to raise the US public’s awareness of the aftermath of Agent Orange sprayed by the US army in Vietnam during the war.

The delegation includes 72-year-old Dang Hong Nhut, who was directly exposed to AO and Tran Thi Hoan, a representative of the 2nd generation of AO victims in the country. Hoan was born with only one arm and without any legs.

Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in New York, Nhut, who saw miscarriage for three times, had a stillborn baby and has been suffering from cancer because of AO, said that she wants to explain to the US people the harmful effects of AO on the people and environment in Vietnam, and how victims, both who experienced the war and younger generations, are suffering from the toxic substance.

According to Merle Ratner, co-ordinator of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC), four US mass organisations fund the victims’ tour with donations contributed by volunteers.

She affirmed that VAORRC supports Vietnamese AO victims and their lawsuit against US chemical companies, demanding these chemical companies pay compensation to the AO victims and calling on the US government to take responsibility towards those victims.

Ratner said her organisation also takes part in building up solidarity among American and Vietnamese AO victims.

During their first day in New York, the Vietnamese AO victims have a busy schedule with meetings with media workers and talks with American students. (VNA)