Experts search for UXOs in Hai Lang district of Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA) The provincial People’s Committee has issued aplan for implementing an action programme for settling the consequences of UXO in2021-2025.
Beside land clearance, Quang Tri will look toraise 10 million USD annually from foreign non-governmental organisations to addressUXO, complete all cluster bomb detection activities, and publicise areasidentified as dangerous due to UXO.
It plans to help 60,000 people access education onUXO and have 1,300-1,500 UXO victims and their families receive healthcare andlivelihood support every year.
All local schools are expected to include UXO safetyeducation in their curricula within the next five years.
To realise these targets, the provincialadministration has devised several solutions, including stepping up themobilisation of foreign funding for dealing with UXO, building a policy ondeveloping human resources for UXO settlement, increasing training for thosewho manage and steer the work, and boosting communications to raise awarenessamong relevant agencies and the community and engender a sense ofresponsibility on the issue.
Eighty-two percent of Quang Tri’s area is contaminatedby UXO. Wartime bombs and landmines have killed more than 3,430 local people andinjured 5,100 others.
The province has cooperated since 1995 withinternational organisations such as Peace Trees Vietnam, the Mines AdvisoryGroup, Clear Path International, and the Norwegian People’s Aid on clearing UXO./.
VNA
