Domestic and international efforts boost landmine cleanup

A staff member from Norwegian People’s Aid Vietnam surveys an area contaminated with landmines - Photo courtesy of NPA

This information was released by Dang Van Dong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) under the Ministry of National Defence, at a November 23 conference on promoting international partnerships and supporting victims of UXO and Agent Orange (dioxin) in Vietnam.

Victims of left-over bombs and mines have mostly been in the Central Highlands and central provinces. High-risk groups include children under 16, scrap collectors and people living in isolated areas.

The center operates a livelihood assistance program and provides aid of up to 5 million VND (213 USD) to each landmine victim’s family.

In collaboration with the governments of the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and other international organizations, capacity building projects for victims are also conducted.

VNMAC focuses on UXO clearance, assistance for landmine victims, communication on UXO prevention and international resource mobilization.

As the cost for UXO cleanup is high, raising awareness for people living in severely contaminated area is prioritized.

Last October, a project to remedy the consequences of post-war bombs and mines in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces from 2018 to 2020 was launched by the governments of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea.

With 20 million USD of assistance from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the project expects to clear 8,000ha of landmine-contaminated area in Quang Binh province and survey 20,000 additional hectares.

Data about victims in the two provinces will be collected to better assess action plans moving forward.

In April, the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences, or Committee 701, under the Ministry of National Defence, was established.

With Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the committee’s head and ministers as members, the government shows its commitment to overcoming post-war consequences of UXO and toxic chemicals, said Do Van Duan, a representative of the committee.