Quang Tri completes survey of unexploded ordnance areas

A bomb is discovered 20m below the ground (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri (VNA) – The central province of Quang Tri has completed a survey of cluster bomb remnants in all accessible areas since its launch eight years ago, reported Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) Vietnam on April 18.

Specifically, NPA Vietnam has identified a total of 1,270 hazardous areas with a total land coverage of 615 sq. km contaminated with cluster bombs. Some 173 sq. km have been cleared by international non-governmental organisations and the provincial military high command, and the remainder are being categorised for future removal.

The survey was carried out by NPA Vietnam, the Restoring the Environment and Neutralising the Effects of the War (RENEW) project, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and PeaceTrees Vietnam (PTVN) which also engaged in the clearance of landmines with funding from the US Department of State.

With a very high level of damage, cluster bombs left over from the war have caused 48.3% of the accidents in Quang Tri since 1975.

According to the provincial Mine Action Centre, bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) have caused casualties to 8,584 people since 1975, including 3,363 deaths. Among the total casualties, children under 16 years old accounted for 31%.

Quang Tri aims to become the first province in the country to be "safe" from UXO by 2025./.