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| At the reception. Photo: Quang Nam newspaper |
The People’s Committee of central Quang Nam province on May 29th held a reception for a delegation from the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) headed by Grant Townsend Coates, Chairman of the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Committee, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The Vietnam Veterans of America‘s (VVA) delegation, including Grant T. Coates and Margaret Pratt Porter, Director of Communications and Public Affairs of the VVA, are in Vietnam from May 16 to June 5.
Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, stated that Quang Nam is one of the areas most severely impacted by wars, with 6,300 victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin.
In Quang Nam province, a total of 226 communes, accounting for 34.6% of the total area, have been adversely affected by the presence of war-related unexploded ordnance.
The official highlighted the attributed contributions of US investors to Quang Nam province’s socio-economic development, noting that there are now eight US projects with a total investment capital of nearly USD 21 million invested in the province, mainly in the fields of electronics, garment-textile, education and catering services.
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| Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Anh Tuan presented a souvenir to Grant Townsend Coates. Photo: Quang Nam newspaper |
Notably, during the 2016-2020 period, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided approximately $15 million to aid Quang Nam in launching the Truong Son Xanh project, which was dedicated to responding to climate change.
Besides, 21 US organizations are also helping Quang Nam with projects and programmes on agricultural and rural development, health care and education with accumulative funding of more than 3 million USD, Tuan said, highlighting a project on bomb and mine clearance in the province.
The official expressed his sincere hope that the VVA will continuously provide assistance to Vietnam in the execution of humanitarian projects related to the resolution of war consequences, particularly the aid for AO victims.
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| Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Anh Tuan wished that VVA would continue to support Quang Nam in implementing humanitarian programs. Photo: Quang Nam newspaper |
For his part, Coates emphatically pledged that his committee will work vigorously to collect information about Vietnamese soldiers and victims who died during the war, and propose the US government pay greater attention to AO victims, earnestly wishing through programs to help heal the wounds of war and reinforce strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
The delegation of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) recently visited and collaborated with the Veterans Association of Quang Nam province.
The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), a non-governmental organization specializing in supporting US veterans of the Vietnam War, has pledged to collect information about Vietnamese soldiers who perished during the conflict to help retrieve the remains of the fallen so that they may rest in peace in their homeland.
The goal of this initiative is to bring closure to families who have lost loved ones during the Vietnam War.
Since 1994, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) has been committed to finding and providing closure to families of missing US soldiers through their “Veteran Initiative” program. This program seeks to provide information about battles related to Vietnam’s soldiers and to honor those who have been lost in the Vietnam War. The VVA’s mission is to ensure that the sacrifices of the fallen are not forgotten and to bring peace of mind to the families of those who have not returned home.
During twenty-five visits and working sessions in Vietnam, the VVA has transferred information on twelve thousand cases of Vietnam soldiers’ sacrifices and missing in combat, helping Vietnam to search for and retrieve the remains of one thousand five hundred martyrs. Furthermore, they contributed funds and raised twenty thousand USD to build Hoa Phong dispensary in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city.
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| The delegation gave gifts and necessities worth USD 200, to the Center for the Protection of AO Victims and Unlucky Children in Da Nang City. Source: dientudacam.vn |
On May 23, the Standing Committee of Thua Thien Hue Provincial Association of AO/Dioxin Victims received and collaborated with the VVA’s delegates.
The two sides discussed a number of issues regarding the sourcing of funds to assist AO/Dioxin victims. On this occasion, the delegation presented three bicycles to students whose parents or grandparents were victims of AO in Huong Thuy and Huong Tra towns.
