SMS campaign launched in support of dioxin victims
A text message campaign to raise funds for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims was launched in Hanoi on July 22 by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) and the National Humanitarian Portal 1400.
Organisations and individuals nationwide have been called to support the campaign by texting “DA CAM” to 1409 between now and September 17. Each message means a donation worth VND20,000 to the victims.
At the launching ceremony, Nguyen Van Rinh, chairman of the VAVA, noted the campaign has since its first launch in 2011 assisted in repairing houses for AO/dioxin victims, and providing gifts to their families and care centres on special days.
Nguyen Van Khanh, vice chairman of VAVA, said that last year’s campaign received over 82,000 text messages, collecting more than VND1.6 billion in support of the victims. The organisers provided aid costing VND550 million to 11 families of AO/dioxin victims in the northern and central region.
Last year the VAVA also offered gifts worth VND300 million to 300 AO/dioxin victims impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Binh Duong, Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City. It also presented gifts costing VND600 million to victims for the Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, as well as assisting their production activities with an amount of VND267 million.
