Sapper force tackles a bom left by the war in Phu Yen (Source: VNA)The event wasjointly held by the State Steering Committee on the National Action Programmeon Settling Consequences of Unexploded Ordnance (known as Steering Committee504), the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the People’sCommittee of Quang Nam.
Vietnam isamong countries with serious unexploded ordnance (UXO) pollution and suffersfrom the most severe war consequencesin the world.
It is estimated that around800,000 tonnes of UXO were left across the country after the war ended, mostlyin the central region. More than six million hectares of land in the country isbomb-and mine-polluted, accounting for 18.82 percent of Vietnam’s total area.
At least 100,000 peoplehave been injured and killed by bombs and mines since 1975, while the environmentand natural resources have been affected, the report said.
In centralregions such as Nghe An, Ha Tinh, QuangBinh, Quang Tri, ThuaThien-Hue,QuangNgai and BinhDinh, there have been 22,800 UXO victims, 10,540 of whomdied.
DeputyMinister of DefenceSenior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, who is head of theSteering Committee 504, said that since the war ended, more than 2,000sappershave died and got injured while performing bomb and mine clearance tasks.
Despite theirgreat and silent efforts and sacrifice, the country has yet to completely avoidUXO-caused accidents, he said, stressing that the most effective measure is tomobilise the engagement of the whole political system and social organisationsinraising public awareness of preventing UXO accidents.
During theevent, the organising board presented 30 gifts, each worth 12 million VND,tovictims of post-war bombs and mines.
On theoccasion, Quang Nam also opened an exhibition featuring efforts to address UXOconsequences, which will run until April 8.-VNA
DeputyMinister of DefenceSenior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, who is head of theSteering Committee 504, said that since the war ended, more than 2,000sappershave died and got injured while performing bomb and mine clearance tasks.
Despite theirgreat and silent efforts and sacrifice, the country has yet to completely avoidUXO-caused accidents, he said, stressing that the most effective measure is tomobilise the engagement of the whole political system and social organisationsinraising public awareness of preventing UXO accidents.
During theevent, the organising board presented 30 gifts, each worth 12 million VND,tovictims of post-war bombs and mines.
On theoccasion, Quang Nam also opened an exhibition featuring efforts to address UXOconsequences, which will run until April 8.-VNA
VNA
