Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision approving a 2023-2025 national action programme on the settlement of consequences of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) left by the war.
The programme aims at mobilising and using domestic andinternational resources to minimise the effects of UXO on the country'ssocio-economic development, ensuring safety for the people. It seeks to promotedissemination activities to raise people’s awareness of mine accidents andhelp UXO victims reintegrate into the community, as well as its compliance withVietnamese laws and international treaties and agreements that Vietnam hassigned.
The programme targets studying and perfecting an organisationalstructure system from the central to the local level to utilise domestic andinternational resources to implement the national action programme on settlingthe consequences of wartime UXOs in Vietnam (Programme504).
It seeks to upgrade at least five regional orthopedic and rehabilitationestablishments and build at least 15 models of commune-level health stations toassist UXO victims, with priority given to heavily polluted areas, providetimely treatment for victims of UXO accidents, and proactively support their sustainable livelihoods. The programme also looks to build a database to assist the victims.
The PM asked the Ministry of National Defence to coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities in the implementation of the approved plan.
The Military Command of Phu Yen Province prepares to detonate a bomb discovered in Song Hinh district in March 2022. (Photo: VNA) The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was ordered towork with the Ministry of National Defence, the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and relevantministries, agencies and localities in negotiating and signing international cooperation documents and receiving resources for theimplementation of the plan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with otherministries and localities in bringing contents of cooperation and assistancein overcoming post-war consequences of landmines and UXOs into the workingprogrammes of Party and State leaders with relevant international organisationsand regional forums.
The Ministry of Finance was requested to collaborate with the Ministry ofPlanning and Investment and the Ministry of National Defence in balancing and allocating the statebudget in to implement the plan.
The Ministry of Information and Communications will coordinate with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Ministry of National Defence and relevant ministries and agencies to direct and provide accurate and timely information on the work.
The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities were asked to include post-war bomb and mine remediation activities into their local socio-economic development plans. They were also assigned to promote the dissemination work to raise people's awareness about mine accidents and support UXO victims in line with state regulations./.
