Twenty aid packages, worth 10 million VND each, are presented to victims of war-era unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on May 29. (Photo: Dai Doan Ket) Dak Lak (VNA) – The VietnamAssociation for Supporting UXO/Mine Action efforts (VNASMA) presented 20 aidpackages, worth 10 million VND each, to victims of war-era unexploded ordnances(UXOs) in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on May 29.
The donations were given to UXO/Mine victimsfrom difficult backgrounds in an event in the provincial capital of Buon MaThuot to support their livelihoods.
The financial aid is expected to help thevictims develop their business and escape from poverty, said Lt. Gen. Pham NgocKhoa, VNASMA Vice President.
He noted that the VNASMA will continueeducating people on the consequences of war-era UXOs and how to prevent relatedaccidents and injuries. The association will ramp up activities to support thevictims’ livelihoods and give them access to medical treatment, orthopedic andrehabilitation services.
Furthermore, people living in UXO-contaminatedland will be supported to move to safer places while more funds will bemobilized from donators both at home and overseas to assist the victims andmine clearance efforts.
Some 18 charity events of this kind have beenheld by the VNASMA since 2015 to support the livelihoods of UXO/Mine victims in17 cities and provinces.
The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak hasmore than 152,000 hectares of land contaminated by mines and UXOs. Since 2010, fourUXO/Mine accidents have occurred in the province, killing three people andinjuring seven others. Over 6,400 bombs and mines alongside thousandskilogrammes of ammunition have been discovered so far.
According to a report of the Ministry ofLabour, Invalids and Social Affairs last year, Vietnam is one of the most UXO-contaminatedcountries in the world. It is estimated that about 800,000 tonnes of UXOs wereleft across the country after the war ended, mostly in the central region.
Some 6.13 million hectares of land arepolluted with or suspected of being polluted with UXOs, accounting for 18.82percent of the country’s total area.
Since 1975, UXO incidents have killed more than 40,000 people and injured60,000 others, most of whom were breadwinners of their families orchildren.-VNA
VNA
