Paris (VNA) – A documentary was screened in Choisy-le-Roi,a city in the suburbs of France’s Paris, on February 10 to call for support forthe victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Vietnam.

The film, titled “Chat doc da cam - Qua bom no cham” (AgentOrange - A delayed-action bomb), was produced in 2013 under the direction of HoThuy Tien and Laurent Lindebrings. Screened at Paul Eluard Theatre, itattracted a large number of local residents.

In his remarks prior to the screening, Vietnamese Ambassadorto France Dinh Toan Thang thanked the support of local residents and theFrance - Vietnam Friendship Association in Choisy-le-Roi for the Vietnamesepeople, especially AO/dioxin victims.

He stated the assistance and solidarity from internationalfriends will help ease the pain suffered by the victims and enhance theirdetermination in the fight for justice.

Following the screening, the audience joined in a talk withTran To Nga, an 80-year-old Vietnamese-French woman and also an AO/dioxinvictim, about the destructive toxin’s impacts on human health and the environment.

According to Choisy-le-Roi Mayor Tonino Panetta, the filmscreening aimed to honour Nga’s fight for justice and also demonstrated hiscity’s support for her and other AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam

The official said he hopes through this event, locals wouldunderstand that war is not the only solution to problems, and that regardlessof victory or loss, the result of every war is only disaster and to Vietnam,that disaster is AO/dioxin.

On this occasion, the France - Vietnam Friendship Associationin Choisy-le-Roi called for both material and spiritual support for AO/dioxinvictims in Vietnam and for solidarity with Nga in the lawsuit against thechemical companies that produced or supplied herbicides for the US army duringwartime.

In 2014, Nga, who used to be a war correspondent in southVietnam during wartime, sued the multinational companies, including Monsanto -Bayer, that produced or supplied herbicides for the US during the war inVietnam.

On May 10, 2021, the Crown Court of Evry city in thesuburbs of Paris rejected her lawsuit, citing it did not have jurisdiction tohear the case, a ruling that disappointed the Vietnamese and international public.

However, Nga and her lawyers decided to file an appeal, andthe struggle for justice for AO/dioxin victims is still underway.

From 1961 to 1971, the US army sprayed 80 million litres ofherbicides which contained about 400kg of dioxin - one of the most toxicsubstances, on Vietnam. Over the last 60 years, effects of this deadly chemicalhave still lingered in land, water, and many people’s bodies. More than 4.8million Vietnamese people are suffering from its consequences.

Every year, Vietnam reserves more than 10 trillion VND (over440 million USD) from its budget for providing aid and health care forAO/dioxin victims and for assisting the disadvantaged areas severely affectedby the herbicides./.