Gia Lai (VNA)– An exhibition on the impact of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Vietnam opened inPleiku city of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on July 18.

The event is to mark the58th year of the AO/dioxin catastrophe in Vietnam and the Day for AO/dioxinvictims (August 10).

Close to 200 imagesand 100 items are being put on show, portraying the chemical warfare in Vietnamand efforts to overcome the consequences of the remaining toxic chemical afterthe war in Vietnam as well as environmental pollution.

The exhibition alsointroduces activities to seek justice by the Vietnam Association for Victims ofAO/Dioxin (VAVA) for the victims of the country who rise to the challenges.

It aims to raise awarenessof the sufferings of the Vietnamese people caused by AO/dioxin, thus callingfor support from the community and international friends in their fight forjustice.

The event runs throughAugust 20.

The US sprayed some 80million litres of toxic chemicals in Vietnam during the war, 61 percent ofwhich was AO containing 366 kg of dioxin. As a result, more than 3 million haof forested land was destroyed, while basic water and food sources for millionsof people were contaminated.

Preliminary statisticsshowed 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/dioxin. Tens ofthousands of people died from exposure, while millions of others went on tosuffer from cancer and other incurable diseases. The children and grandchildrenof many victims have been affected with birth deformities. –VNA