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Today, more than one third of the
land mass of the six most contaminated
provinces in central Vietnam remains
contaminated with unexploded bombs,
artillery shells, rockets and landmines
from the Vietnam War, according to the
VVAF-BOMICEN study.
“Landmines now strike civilian pop-
ulations and their effects continue for
generations after the end of the armed
conflict. More than one third of the land
mass in these provinces is contaminat-
ed which is a serious development ob-
stacle. There is much more work to do
to make Vietnam safe for all to enjoy,”
said VVAF founder Bobby Muller.
Taking action
The UK based organisation, MAG, is
working to reduce the risk of UXO. Jim-
my Roodt, the NGO’s country programme
manager said it may be able to address
the UXO challenges in Vietnam within
30-40 years: “But the problem is there
must be more investment and efforts
from many organisations around the
world. Vietnam’s efforts are insufficient.”
According to Programme 504, the
government has spent $30 million annu-
ally on UXO clearance work and $50 mil-
lion for resettlement and social security in
recent years. In order to clear all post-war
bombs, landmines and UXOs, Vietnam
will need a budget of over $10 billion.
More than of 100,000 hectares of
land were cleared of bombs and mines
during 2012 and 2013, but it would
take Vietnam many years and billions
of dollars to finish the job completely,
said Deputy Defence Minister and sen-
ior lieutenant general Nguyen Chi Vinh
at a recent development partnership
conference on mine action in Hanoi.
At the event, Prime Minister Nguy-
en Tan Dung called on international do-
nors and organisations to increase their
support for Vietnam’s efforts, and assist
victims of bombs and mines.
“Although we have enjoyed peace
for decades, the aftermath of the war
remains a big problem for the country,”
Dung said. “Because the explosive con-
tamination is so great, Vietnam truly
needs assistance and support from all
governments, international organisa-
tions, non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), and concerned individuals and
communities. Let’s join hands to speed
up the removal of bombs and mines, to
secure people’s livelihoods and to assist
victims of bombs and mines to reinte-
grate into society.”
Currently, donor countries provide
aid to support mine action in Vietnam
primarily through international organi-
sations and NGOs, with an average of
about $5-7 million a year, according to
Programme 504.
Vinh says the resources for the
post-war de-mining efforts remain
humble. This is coupled with a lack of
equipment, emergency aid for victims
and research and development into de-
mining equipment.
“It is a war we are fighting during
peacetime and Programme 504 has a
lot to do,” Vinh says.
At the conference, many donor na-
tions like Japan, Norway, South Korea,
the US and Ireland and representatives
from many international organisations
pledged to assist Vietnam’s efforts.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary
Samuel Perez said assisting Vietnam in
addressing UXOs was a priority for the
US. In December 2013, US Secretary of
State John Kerry signed an agreement
to further co-operation.
“For the US, helping Vietnam ad-
dress UXO challenges is a priority.
Since 1993 we have provided over
$69 million in assistance to reduce the
threats posed by UXO contamination.
Vietnam’s commitment to a transpar-
ent and inclusive national programme
on mine action is an encouraging
development,” Perez said. “While re-
sources are critical to implementing
mine action activities, they must be
co-ordinate and applied to a clear set
of priorities which requires openness
and information sharing between gov-
ernment and donors.”
Vietnamhas also established its Viet-
nam National Mine Action Centre tasked
with co-coordinating the programme,
organising mine action associations and
mobilising domestic resources.
Excavation works reveal the
depth at which UXO lurks