VNMAC and Golden West representatives exchange the MoU (Photo: qdnd.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in solving wartime landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) impacts was signed between the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and the US’s Golden West Humanitarian Foundation on November 9.
Under the document, Golden West will assist VNMAC to increase the UXO clearance staff’s professional capacity while sharing information about UXO disposal techniques.
It will also design, produce and transfer professional equipment to the Vietnamese side, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily reported.
The newspaper quoted Golden West CEO Allan Vosburgh said at the signing ceremony in Hanoi that his organisation will continue programmes and projects to support VNMAC in training personnel and equipping professional facilities. It will also help Vietnam’s navy promote underwater UXO clearance capacity.
According to a preliminary survey in 2002, nearly 9,300 communes with 6.6 million hectares of land across Vietnam were contaminated with UXOs, accounting for 21.12 percent of the country’s land area; the central region is the most contaminated.
UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000. The State has spent tens of millions of USD every year on UXO disposal and providing vocational training to and resettling UXO victims.-VNA
