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During a trip to find materials for our articles on Agent Orange/Dioxin, which was organized from March 7-26, 2005 jointly by the Professional Fostering Centre of Vietnam Journalists’ Association and Lille Journalist University, France, and the Hanoi-based Embassy, we traveled to many places nationwide to collect information and record images of serious impacts of Agent Orange/ Dioxin on Vietnamese people and environment. Here, we would like to present some unfortunate lots with a view to rousing human conscience for a concerned voice to protect protecting justice and help victims overcome their misfortunes.nbsp;
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Born in 1976 in Dong Hoa Commune, Thai Binh Province, Ha Thi Hai is the second of four children and the only one in her family to be able to go to school. Her father, Ha Van Cong, a soldier who fought at Quang Tri battle front, was exposed to the Agent Orange/Dioxin and his children now bear the genetic scars of that exposure. Hai and her younger brothers and sisters suffer from geriatric marrow that causes myatrophy and paralysis of their arms and legs.
With much love for her parents, siblings and not wanting to become a burden on them plus deeply grieving for her younger brothers and sister, Hai had attempted suicide. Yet, with the encouragement and assistance from her family, friends and relatives, she now tries to live and learn well.
 Pham Viet Truong winning second prize at Tien Phuoc District's chess competition. |
I wish to have a motorbike so that my father could take
me to school everyday
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Wishing to hear
our children calling “dad and mom”
Visiting the house of an old couple, Nguyen Van Hai, 52, and Truong
Thi An, in Cam Dong Village, Tien Cam Commune, Tien Phuoc District, Quang
Nam Province, we met their 13 year-old daughter, Nguyen Thi Tra Giang, who
was curled up in bed and occasionally howled. She has suffered from a
disabilitating disease known as hydrocephalus which has rendered her
unable to cognize everything and to speak. “We only wish she could sit,
walk and call out ‘dad and mom’. That would be a great happiness for us,
let alone talking about her future. We also don’t know whether she will
die before or after us,” said An, whose face has been deformed by Napan
bombs.
As for Thuy in Hoi Lam Village, Tien Chau
Commune, Tien Phuoc District, she has never dreamed of unattainable things
but a simple one: “We only wish they were healthy and understood us
because we don’t want to give birth to deaf, dumb and paralysed children
like that. Everyone wishes to have healthy and pretty children but how can
we do this because of the circumstances in this area”.
Nearly 40 years have elapsed since the US troops sprayed toxic chemicals over this area, the green has returned to Tien Phuoc but certainly hundreds of Agent Orange/Dioxin- affected children born in this land will never have such a green in their life.
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They continue
existing
Le Van Binh in Hung Nhuong
Village 10, Vu Hoi Commune, Vu Thu District, Thai Binh Province is the
father of nine children.nbsp; Five of them have died and four are
handicapped. They all were inherently affected by their father who fought
in the Central Highlands battle front and was exposed to the Agent
Orange/Dioxin. To earn a living and feed the family, he has to drive a
cyclo and his wife collects scrap-iron. Talking about his children, Binh
couldn’t hold back his tear: “Now we are still healthy and can earn money
to take care of them, but how can they live on when we get old and
die”.
 Hieu attending a garment making class. |
 Lua was taught by her father. |
 Lien earning money to feed her family by collecting old newspappers. |
 Allnbsp;members of the family having dinner together. |
nbsp;By Hoang Ha
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