40 years after the end of the war, “Agent Orange” continues to Poison
Vietnam. 12/24. In Quang Tri, at DONG HA, NGUYEN THI TANG, 67 years old, takes care of her grandson, NGUYEN DUC THANG, 9, physically and mentally handicapped.
Photo by Alexis DUCLOS
Today, forty years after the end of the war in Vietnam, about 60,000 adults and more than 200,000 children still suffer from “Agent Orange”. Congenital defects, cancer, physical and mental handicaps represent a majority of the cases; the consequence of being exposed to more than 70 million litres of defoliants of which one is the infamous “Agent Orange” that was dispersed in the Centre and South Vietnam from 1961 to 1971 by the American Army. An agricultural country, 20 percent of the Vietnamese land absorbed 170 kg of dioxin. Fighters on both sides were exposed; the civilian population gravely affected. Today in New York, the Vietnamese Association for Victims, represented by American lawyers, is asking for reparations and justice. The implications and the social and economic consequences of this trial are considerable considering at issue is the largest chemical war in History.
Vietnam. 12/2004. Ho Chi Minh. Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, at Tu Du Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital is pictured with a group of handicapped children, most of them victims of Agent Orange. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/04. Ho Chi Minh City. At the Tu Du Hospital, a centre for the care of handicapped children. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/04. Ho Chi Minh. At the Hospital TU DU, portrait of PHAM THI THUY LINH, a young girl of 10 years, born without arms.
Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/04. Ho Chi Minh. At her neighbourhood school, PHAM THI THUY LINH, a young girl of 10 years, born without arms, receives cake from her friends.
Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/04. Ho Chi Minh. At the school PHAN DINH PHINHO TU DU, PHAM THI THUY LINH, a young girl of 10 years old, born without arms, writes in her schoolbook. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. Ho Chi Minh. At the Hospital TU DU, PHAM THI THUY LINH, a young girl of 10 years old, writes in her schoolbook under the eye of TRAN BIN MINH, 10 years old. Both born without arms. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/24. Ho Chi Minh. At the Hospital TU DU, Ngyuen Duc, 23, originally a Siamese twin then separated from his brother by operation, poses in the room where malformed foetuses are kept in jars. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam.12/04. Valley of A Luoi. KAN LAY, 55 years old, and her son, KE VAN BEC, 14 years old, physically and mentally handicapped, pose in front of the billboard denouncing the operation Ranch hand. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. At the Association Thien Phuoc, outside Ho Chi Minh City. Physically handicapped Le Van Binh Quec, 23, is singing. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. At the Association Thien Phuoc, outside Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Ba Cuong, 12 years old, mentally handicapped, plays the harmonica.
Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/04. Hospital of Binh Duong, Rehabilitation center for children, victims of Agent Orange. DR. TRAN DUC CUONG consults with handicapped children in the presence of their families. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. At the Association Thien Phuoc, outside Ho Chi Minh City, mentally and physically handicapped childrenVietnam.
Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. Quang Tri province. In the village of Cam Chinh, Le Thi Ly, 42, is pictured at home with her physically and mentally handicapped daughter Nguyen Thi Thanh Lien, 15. Photo by Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. Mekong. At Phu Duc, Tran Thi Nhu, 10, physically and mentally handicapped, in the arms of his mother, Pham Thi Tham, 46. Behind, her sister Tran thi Mung, 10, mentally ill. Photo: Alexis DUCLOSVietnam. 12/2004. Quang Tri province, in the village of Cam Tuyen, Tran Van Tram, 55, and his wife Tran Thi Dan, 54, are pictured with their 4 mentally and physically handicapped children. Photo Alexis DUCLOS
