Mine clearance techniques introduced at the event (Photo: VNA)Quang Tri (VNA) – The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), ahumanitarian non-government organisation that helps clear explosive ramnants ofwar, held a ceremony in Dong Ha city, the central province of Quang Tri onMarch 15 to mark its 25th year of operation in Vietnam.
Established in the UK in 1989, MAG has worked to bring safetyand opportunities to rebuild life and develop livelihoods and future for tensof millions of people in war-affected areas of more than 70 countries.
In 1999, MAG arrived in Vietnam and set up its first office inQuang Tri, the most severely contaminated place for bombs and mines in Vietnam.It expanded its operation in Quang Binh in 2003 then Quang Nam in 2012.
Over the past 25 years, MAG has cleared almost 180 millionsquare metres of land, and destroyed more than 230,000 explosives of variouskinds, helping bring safety to nearly 700,000 residents. Besides, it has builtschools, medical stations, roads and resettlement areas while carrying out over1,000 communications activities to raise public awareness of measures toprevent bomb and mine accidents.
At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee Hoang Nam spoke highly of the contributions by MAG, expressing hishope that MAG and other action operators will continue support for the provinceto recover post-war consequences and develop the socio-economy sustainably.
Quang Tri is striving to become the first Vietnamese localitythat lives safely with bombs and mines left over from wars, he added.
On the occasion, MAG received certificates of merit from theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisation and the Chairman of the Quang Triprovincial People’s Committee for its contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economicdevelopment during 1999-2024, and post-war recovery in Quang Tri province./.
