>> Read Vietnamese version here.

To members of affected Vietnamese communities in the Gulf Coast,

The current oil spill has spread into communities along the Gulf Coast and poses grave threats to the health and livelihood of thousands of Vietnamese American families, especially those within fishing and shrimping communities in the coastal states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and potentially Texas and Florida. BPSOS is closely monitoring the situation and working with government agencies at various levels and national advocacy groups to address concerns regarding the Vietnamese American or Asian American community. We will update community members with current information through our national network of BPSOS branches and multimedia channels, including print, TV and radio. We have also set up a bilingual web site at: http://www.bpsos.org/gulfcoastoilspill.

In the upcoming weeks, BPSOS staff and volunteers stand ready to assist and provide affected individuals and communities in the Gulf Coast with practical know-hows, such as health protection, where to receive assistance, and how to respond with contract offers from BP or requests for legal representation from various law firms currently present in the region.

Over the last few days, many community members have informed us that they are receiving solicitation letters from different law firms to represent them in lawsuits seeking damages. We will review the qualifications of these law firms and will provide our findings so that community members can make informed decisions to ensure that their best interests are protected. At the moment, BP has sent its representatives to invite community members to process claims with the company as well as to take on work opportunities available via its “Vessel Opportunities for Hire” program. BPSOS is reviewing these programs - considering any advantages and hidden consequences - and will release our findings to community members soon.

BPSOS will organize a series of town hall meetings in various affected communities in the Gulf Coast in the upcoming weeks and will provide detailed information regarding meeting dates, times, and locations soon. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, BPSOS’ Executive Director, and a our team of health and legal experts will be present to provide information, answer questions, and discuss solutions with community members. 

In the meantime, we recommend community members to exercise caution and not to sign contracts regarding the oil spill, which can potentially harm your rights.

If you have any questions regarding the oil spill, please contact one of our local branch offices: 

Mississippi/Louisiana:  Daniel Le at (228) 436-9999

Alabama:                      David Pham at (251) 824-7004

Texas:                          Ngoc Huynh at (281) 530-6888

Other locations:            Kim-Cuc Le 703-538-2190

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