The Ford Foundation has taken a leadership role in the philanthropic community to address the impact of dioxin on post-war Vietnam by raising awareness and providing resources around a humanitarian agenda. We began working on dioxin issues in 2000.
From 1961 to 1971, U.S. military forces sprayed more than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides on forests and crops in southern and central Vietnam. The campaign had both human and environmental consequences. For decades, the after-effects of dioxin remained an unresolved matter between the United States and Vietnam. In recent years, improved relations have opened the doors to cooperation.
In 2007, we established the Special Initiative on Agent Orange/Dioxin. Through the initiative, we work to transform dioxin-contaminated "hotspots" into clean, safe environments and serve families facing related health issues. We also support the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin—a bipartisan panel of distinguished policy makers, scientists, and nonprofit and business leaders—in a joint effort to confront the most pressing problems.
Cooperation and concerted efforts that fully address the environmental and health legacy of Agent Orange and dioxin in Vietnam require action now. Promising initiatives from diverse constituencies can increase awareness, promote understanding, and foster sustainable solutions.
Contact:
Charles R. Bailey
Director
Ford-AOInitiative@fordfoundation.org
(+1) 212-573-4626
