AO/dioxin still causes sufferings for generations of Vietnamese: German daily
Fifty years ago the US stopped spraying Agent Orange (AO) through Vietnam, however, people still suffer from severe hereditary defects to this day, wrote a recent article published by German daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau (FR).
Bien Hoa airbase has high level of dioxin contamination (Photo: VNA)
Berlin (VNA) –༒ Fifty years agothe US stopped spraying Agent Orange (AO) through Vietnam, however, peoplestill suffer from severe hereditary defects to this day, wrote a recent articlepublished by German daily newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau (FR).
On January 7, 1971, a US Air Force aircrafttook off for the last time to spray the chemical warfare agent over Vietnamesefields and forests. "Agent Orange" was the most harmful and the mostwidely used, the article said. The toxic chemicals were provided by DowChemical, Monsanto (through Mobay, a joint subsidiary with the Federal Republicof Germany Bayer AG), and a handful of others. Dow Chemical also suppliednapalm to the US armed forces until 1969. It went on to say that by January 7, 1971,the US Air Force had flown 6,542 flights to spray more than 20 million barrelsof the chemicals over Vietnam’s southern region.
More than 20 percent of the forests of inthe region were "defoliated" at least once and ten million hectaresof agricultural land were destroyed. ꦅ The actions were secret until the end of1965, the article added.
It was only when inquiries were made in theUS Congress that the government declared that it was by no means a chemicalwarfare, but that herbicides were used to destroy the crops of Vietnamesefarmers in the south. The author cited estimates of theVietnamese Government that four million Vietnamese were exposed to AO/dioxins,with severe damage that extends to the present day. The poisonous chemicals penetrated the soiland groundwater, while it is believed that the former US bases where the chemicalbarrels were stored are also contaminated. After long disputes, started in the 1990s, someof the US soldiers who suffered severe damage due to contact with dioxinreceived compensation. The Vietnamese victims, however, have not received any. Although the governments of US President GeorgeW. Bush and Barack Obama had presented Vietnam close to 100 million USD for anecological cleaning programme, in 2016, the cost of cleaning a stretch of thedioxin-contaminated Passaic River in New Jersey was estimated at 1.4 billionUSD, the article pointed out./.
President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of AO/dioxin (VAVA) Nguyen Van Rinh has sent a letter expressing support for Vietnamese-French Tran Thi To Nga who had filed a lawsuit against 26 US chemical firms for producing chemical toxins sprayed by the US army in the war in Vietnam, causing serious consequences for the community, her children and herself.
A fundraising app for victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin was launched by the Vietnam Association of Victims of AO/dioxin (VAVA) during a ceremony on October 6.
The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) has raised more than 1.5 trillion VND (64.44 million USD) in the last five years to support victims, according to association Vice President Dang Nam Dien.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
Bien Hoa airbase has high level of dioxin contamination (Photo: VNA) 
