• Agent Orange Belgium

    Belgian branch of the International
    Association of Victims of Agent Orange

    We help to mobilize the organizations, individuals and benefactors in Belgium and other countries for helping the victims in Hoi An.

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June 22th, 2015

Hoi An Association of Victims of Agent Orange agreed to establish the Belgian Branch of the International Association of Victims of Agent Orange. Mrs. Chris Geyskens was invited to be President in order to help to mobilize organizations, individuals and benefactors in Belgium and other countries for helping the victims in Hoi An.

We undertake to use the fund to do the following duties:

  1. Regularly and unscheduledly support for the victims who have especially difficult situation.
  2. Assist funds for the healthy victims to make producing and breeding
  3. Support for the innate victims to study.
  4. Home repair.
  5. Health care.
  6. Ohter emergency support: disaster, desease, ...

Chris Geyskens
A woman with a heart for charity

Chris Geyskens was born with a natural feeling for tourism. It was meant to be, with both parents active in that beautiful sector. Very soon, from when she was young, Chris knew how to work hard… but also how and why she should give something back to the people who were less fortunate.

Her parents showed her the way to charity and its importance. Chris traveled the world and discovered so many beautiful places, but often she was faced with distressing situations. That touched her heart. When she was in Vietnam for example. She got in contact with the victims of Agent Orange and immediately knew she had to do something. Today she is in charge of the Belgian branch of the International Association of Victims of Agent Orange. Chris Geyskens was invited to be president in order to help mobilize organizations, individuals and benefactors in Belgium and other countries for helping the victims in Hoi An.

Vo Thi Hoa
A woman with a humanity heart

I always wonder why God didn’t give me what I want? I feel I still lose out to many people. But these thoughts had been disappeared when I knew about the victims of Agent Orange. Then I though I’m so lucky.

Vietnam war ended over 55 years but its consequences are leaving until now. The wounds by Agent Orange/ Dioxin still affected on health and spirits of many Vietnamese. However, among them there are many people overcome fate, become useful citizens for society. At this time, I think of Mrs. Vo Thi Hoa.

Mrs Vo Thi Hoa was born and grow up in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province. Her husband is a victim of Agent Orange when he took part in Vietnam war. He died when he was 34 years old, left Mrs Hoa and two sons. Ironically, her first son has been affected by Agent Orange, he usually be convulsed and was diagnosed as mentally ill. But up to now, there are not any supporting for him.

For herself, the her two biggest pains are the husband death and Agent Orange son. However, those things don’t struck her down, in contrast, they make her more strong and sympathize with the victims of Agent Orange. She worked in Hoi An Inspectorate and retired in October, 2005. Three years later, on January, 2008 she took part in the Hoi An Association of Agent Orange Victims and currently she is a President of the Association. In 7 years, she usually visits and shares the pain of victims. Moreover, she also search information, mobilise the benefactors in Vietnam and other countries to support the victims both of material and mental.

I really admire her enthusiasm and effort. Mrs Hoa is an energetic woman, a bright mirror that people should emulate and learn from.

The pain of victims of Agent Orange is a lingering obsession, they need to be help frequently and continuously. Therefore, each of us needs aware deeply about this problem, learn and work hard , strive to build the good society in which everyone is guaranted the right to live and the right to pursue happiness.

News

55th Anniversary of Agent Orange/ dioxin catastrophe in Vietnam

Lady and gentleman, Today, we’re honered to organize the 55th Anniversary of Agent Orange/ dioxin catastrophe in Vietnam. On this occasion, we also give presents for victims who arein extremely difficulty in the city. On behalf of Viet Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/ dioxin in Hoi An , I wish all of you great health, happiness. 55 years ago, on August 10th, 1961, The helicopter called H-34 of United States Air Force began the first flight to spray toxic chemicals from Kon Tum to Dak To in Vietnam, launching “Operation Ranch Hand” a program that lasted almost a decade. Especially, from 1965, USFs decided to extend the campaign by using C-123 provider aircraft to spray tons of herbicides with missions to destroy our food supplies, clear and expose transportation and infiltration routes.

During 10 years (from 1961 to 1971), more than 80 liters of herbicides (including 61% of agent orange with 366 kg dioxin) were sprayed into 1/4 areas South of Viet Nam. Dioxin is the most toxicchemical that people have ever known. Many scientists shows that just 85 gram dioxin dissovled in water supply system could kill a city of 8 million-citizens. 4,8 million people was reported to be exposed to Orange agent, among in 3 million direct vitims and also their 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation. Most of vitims is Vietnamese soldiers and people who lived in sprayed herbicides areas. They have been dying everyday, suffering a lot of pains in mind and body. Many of them live in pessimistic, loneliness during their life. With all responsibility, Viet Nam government has a deeply interest to victims of agent orange campaign. Every year, they give 10 billion for mothly allowance. On 10/1/2014, VAVA was officially set up. This is one and only organization that represent for agent orange vitims, build the relationship to in inside-outside organizations, fight for forcing US take responsibility for the dioxin catastrophe . By the end of December, 2015, VAVA has 360.000 members from 61 provinces, 593 city and 6.341 village. About 1,150 billion were donated for helping victims.

The VAVA in Quang Nam was set up on April 15th, 2005. At this moment there are more than 10.500 members with 40 billion of donation to help 35.000 victims. In Hoi An, The Association had launched on Jan 1st, 2008. After 9 years of development, now it has 12 organizations with 950 members and 1 branch in Belgium. According to a report, there are 1443 people who suffered from exposing dioxin in Hoi An. In 2016 (from Jan - the early of August) VAVA in Hoi An collected to 483.029.222 VND including 172.933.222 VND of the branch in Belgium. It was used to help 773 victims with 458.704.402 VND, comprising: 80 million for repairing house for 2 family in Cam Thanh; 237.849.402 million for supporting 18 persons of the 3rd- generation victims in Cam Ha, Cam Thanh. (...) Today, we want to express our gratitude towards government organizations, people for your contributions to help the agent orange victims. Thank you so much. Best wishes.

Project funded by European Union Women

By the end of September 2016, VAVA Hoi An had finished delivering chickens to orange agent victim’s families in the city. Be a part of Livelihood Development Project that VAVA Hoi An in Belgium called for funding from  European Union Women. The project aims to help these families to have stable income, improve their life and take care the orange agent victims better. With 122 million VND in total, VAVA had given 50 one-month breeder chickens to each of 11 families including food and coop. Not long time ago, on September 7th VAVA organized training course for them. Moreover, during feeding time, a veterinary takes responsibility for checking and guiding technique for these families. Here are some pictures of giving breeder chickens by VAVA Hoi An.

Objectives

The Hoi An Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (HAVA) is a social and charitable organization of victims of AO/dioxin and individuals and groups who live and work in the city and volunteer to make donations and non-material contributions to assist these victims to overcome the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

HAVA operates to call on all citizen classes and domestic and international benefactors to provide conditions to help AO/dioxin victims to overcome their difficulties, integrate into the community, promote the ability to participate in social activities and work, and contribute to the construction and protection of the socialist Vietnam motherland. Also, HAVA will help and encourage AO/dioxin victims to strive to make progress and care for each other to carry out the duties and benefits of citizenship well, and contribute to building and protecting the socialist Vietnam motherland.

Functions

HAVA will organize publicity activities and call on all citizen classes to promote our national tradition of “Whole leaves wrap torn leaves”, to love and provide spiritual and material assistances to AO/dioxin victims to encourage them to overcome their bodily pains; share difficulties in life with them; help them to strive for a better living and gain victory over their diseases, raise their optimistic spirit to continue to work and make contributions to society. Also, DAVA will organize activities to protect the benefits of Hoian AO/dioxin victims.

Duties

Gather, unite and encourage AO/dioxin victims to overcome their difficulties, and promote the ability to participate in social activities, integrate into the community and obey the State laws.

Organize activities to publicize and call for material and non-material contributions by individuals, State agencies, military units, economic and social organizations, etc, to provide conditions for AO/dioxin victims to integrate into the community.

Make proposals to the city leaders and State agencies to consider adjustments to and the issuance of additional policies relating to the privileges and benefits of AO/dioxin victims.

Call for humannitarian donations and assistance from domestic and international individuals and organizations for AO/dioxin victims. Exchange experiences in people’s interaction activities with other associations for the benefit of AO/dioxin victims.

Represent Hoian AO/dioxin victims when contacting domestic agencies and organizations, in international relations, and represent Hoian AO/dioxin victims when participating in international forums and organizations to protect their benefits.

Fields of operations

Care for and assist AO/dioxin victims in Danang, take part in publicity activities and cooperate with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) and the whole nation to speak up and struggle for justice for AO/dioxin victims.

Donate Now -BE17 0689 0303 0621- SWIFT -GKCCBEBB-

Contact Us

+32 2 736 49 31

info@agentorangebelgium.be