The Forgotten of the Apocalypse (Swiss Stories 2014, by Christian Brun) - Swiss Press Award
24 heures, Le Courier et EQDA
Christian Brun
The Forgotten of the Apocalypse The scene of a “dirty war,” Vietnam is still suffering, 50 years later, the effects of toxic defoliants. Many residents live in contact with these poisons, which poses considerable humanitarian problems. Report at the heart of the “genie of death.” But the problem also arises for populations living outside the contaminated areas but who have parents or grandparents who were exposed to Dioxin. Fortunately, some men, former enemies, are working to improve the fate of Agent Orange victims. For this report, I did not seek to sensationalize by looking for the victims most affected physically or mentally. But I simply went to meet people in the contaminated and non-contaminated areas and followed those who are trying to improve the daily lives of victims of the AO. In the end, I met Son Lam, son of a Vietnamese veteran who served under the spraying of defoliant. Aside from his father's inheritance, Son Lam has never had any contact with dioxin. Severely physically disabled but very quick-witted, he refuses to consider himself a victim, he has started his own business and declares that Agent Orange will not win and that he will have the upper hand. This photo report was made possible thanks to EQDA "In Search of Elsewhere" In crossed perspectives from North to South, nine pairs of journalists from Switzerland and "elsewhere" explore the theme of "The Humanitarian Planet". To find out more: www.eqda.ch CH Brun Etranger 1: Just before entering the A Luoi valley, we can observe what remains of the virgin forest after Agent Orange: the large living tree survived the defoliant 50 years ago, the other died from it and the greenery underneath is all that has painfully managed to grow back since. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Places this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Etranger 2: A ghost town, houses and fish farm abandoned where the old US airstrip of A Shau was located, due to the high levels of dioxin still present, near Dong Son in the A Luoi Valley. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Places this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Etranger 3: Victim of Agent Orange, Ho Thi Gia Thu has lost her sight. Inactive on her bed, she tries to find the image of her stuffed monkey. near Dong Son in the A Luoi Valley. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Places this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Etranger 4: Victim of Agent Orange, Ho Thi Gia Thu has lost her sight. Near Dong Son in the A Luoi Valley. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten, Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreign 5: Gia Ngan's family is among the 34 households that lived at the former A Shau airport. His wife, Ho Thi Lien, gave birth 14 times, but only three children survived. Their 14-year-old daughter, Ho Thi Gia Thu (center left), underwent three brain surgeries but has since gone blind. The other two children, like 13-year-old Ho Thi Linh (center right), are also gradually losing their sight and some of their hearing. The mother, who is very ill, has just undergone several hospital treatments, the costs of which have completely ruined the family. Near Dong Son in the A Luoi Valley. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Things this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreigner 6: Ho Van Hoa, whose parents lived on the site of the former American military base of A Shau, contaminated by dioxin, in the A Luoi Valley, suffers from congenital malformations. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Things this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreigner 7: Vietnamese botanist Phung Tuu Boi on the former American runway of A Shau, in front of a bomb crater, holding a branch of thorny acacia that forms the outside of the plant barrier, which can be seen in the background. He had it planted to prevent access to the most dioxin-polluted area of the A Luoi Valley. Report: The Forgotten Apocalypse this Wednesday, July 31, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreigner 8: Le, Phuong, Dung, and Thuan, deaf and mute, surround Long, who has congenital malformations. These five young, blossoming girls live in a protected environment at the "Friendship Village" in Hanoi, a center founded by American veteran George Mizo, which welcomes nearly two hundred victims of Agent Orange. Far from outside view, they are treated there and learn a trade. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Ones this Tuesday, August 6, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreigner 9: Suffering from congenital malformations and cerebral palsy, Thuong (R) works in the flower workshop with Thu (L) at the Friendship Village, a center founded by American veteran George Mizo, which welcomes nearly two hundred victims of Agent Orange. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Ones this Tuesday, August 6, 2013 (Christian Brun) CH Brun Foreigner 10: Son Lam wants to live like everyone else in Hanoi. He is determined not to let himself be defeated by Agent Orange, which has disabled him. Report: The Apocalypse's Forgotten Ones this Sunday, August 11, 2013 (Christian Brun)
