Cooperation and concerted efforts that fully address the environmental and health legacy of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam require action now. We are supporting a variety of actors such as the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin. Many other government, nongovernmental, and nonprofit donor partnerships have also developed in an effort to find solutions.
In 2006, President Bush and President Nguyen Minh Triet issued a joint statement that, for the first time, acknowledged dioxin contamination as a war legacy that would benefit from joint action. They agreed to collaborate and clean up dioxin hot spots at former U.S. military air bases and to increase humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese with disabilities.
The American embassy in Hanoi secured $400,000 in State Department and Environmental Protection Agency funding for technical studies, which are leading to the containment of dioxin at the Danang airport, one of the dioxin hot spots. And in May 2007, in an unprecedented action, Congress appropriated $3 million for environmental remediation of dioxin hot spots and for health needs in surrounding communities.
Breakthroughs in Funding
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF's special initiative works to improve healthcare and education for disabled children affected by the exposure to Agent Orange.
Vietnam Assistance to the Handicapped works to raise awareness and develop public policies and programs that advance the independence and wellbeing of people with disabilities.
The East Meets West Foundation established the Support Network for People With Disabilities to help people with disabilities in Quang Ngai Province gain access to healthcare and educational services.
Where to Learn More
PBS Worldfocus for a January 15, 2009 report by Mark Litke on the impact of Agent Orange/dioxin on the Vietnamese.
Hatfield Consultants for the latest monitoring programs, investigations and additional resources.
War Legacies Project for educational materials, scientific studies and the latest news and events.
Articles in the Associated Press and Chemosphere about hot spot containment efforts.
Reports:
- Hatfield Consultants and the Office of the National Steering Committee 33, June 2009, "Summary of Dioxin Contamination at the Bien Hoa, Phu Cat and Da Nang Airbases, Vietnam"
- National Organization on Disability, June 2009, "U.S. Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange: Understanding the Impact 40 Years Later"
- The Congressional Research Service, May 2009, "Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange and U.S.-Vietnam Relations"
- Office of the National Steering Committee 33, April 2009, "Overcoming Consequences of Toxic Chemicals/Dioxin, A Difficult and Long-Term Task"
- Charles R. Bailey, March 2009, "America's Unfinished Business in Vietnam"
Congressional Testimonies:
June 4, 2009
- Charles R. Bailey, director of the Ford Foundation Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin
- Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- Professor Vo Quy, former director, Centre for Natural Resources and Environment Studies at the National University of Hanoi, Vietnam
- Mary Eileen Dolan-Hogrefe, vice president and senior advisor, National Organization on Disability
- Honorable Ngo Quang Xuan, vice chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly and co-chair of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin
May 15, 2008