Sappers are searching for war-left bombs and mines (Source: VNA)Quang Tri (VNA) – Several foreign-fundedprojects have been conducted in the centralprovince of Quang Tri over the past two decades, helping the locality to clearbombs and mines left from war.
Quang Tri is one oflocalities most affected by the aftermath of war, with 81 percent of theprovince’s total area polluted with unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Statistics from the provincialcentre for overcoming bomb and mine consequences show that by April 2018, bomband mine accidents had killed 3,430 people and injured 5,100 others, includingmany children.
Demining projects in Quang Tri have been funded by many foreign agencies, includingthe foreign ministries of Germany, the US and Norway, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperationand Development of Germany, the UK’s Department for International Development, Ireland’s development assistancefund, UNICEF and the US organisation Peace Trees.
The projects have helped clear132 million sq.m of seriously polluted areas, and safely handle more than650,000 bombs, mines and other UXO.
More than 350,000 people were provided with knowledge and skills to prevent UXOaccidents via the “Mine Risk Education(MRE)” programme.
Local authorities have also paid attention to supporting local victims ofwar-era UXO, helping them improve their livingconditions and re-integrate into the community.
Non-governmental organisations have financed the building of 332 humanitarianhouses, and directly aided 215 UXO victims and their families.
Some 1,200 UXO victims who are living with disabilities were provided withmedical examination and prosthetics and other orthopedic instruments, while 50disabled people and medical workers were trained in community-basedrehabilitation.
Nguyen Duc Thien from theprovincial centre for overcoming bomb and mine consequences said demining projectshave contributed to expanding safe land area for production in the locality.
To improve the work, the locality will set up a mine action centre, he said,adding that Quang Tri hopes to receive greater support and resources for thescheme.-VNA
VNA
