Groups ready for upcoming day for chemical war victims

(28-04-2007)

HA NOI -- The Viet Nam Peace and Development Fund and the Viet Nam Agent Orange Victims Association organised a conference in the capital yesterday to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the United Nations' Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The two bodies, together with local and international organisations, urged members of the public to come out in support of the International Day for Victims of Chemical Weapons on Sunday.

During the American War in Viet Nam, the US carried out the longest chemical weapons campaign the world has ever known. According to US data, around 80 million litres of chemicals -- including 366kg of dioxin -- were dropped on southern Viet Nam, affecting some 4.8 million people. It is estimated that there are around three million victims of dioxin -- including children born after the war that ended 32 years ago.

The two organisers thanked other groups for the support they had given victims of Agent Orange and called on the world to outlaw the use of chemical weapons. It also called on those opposed to chemical weapons to support Viet Nam's bid to sue US chemical companies.

In Paris in 1993, 130 countries, including Viet Nam, signed up to the CWC -- formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. -- VNS