Vietnam has brought home nearly 16,000 remains of volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the war in Laos since 1994 and over 14,500 in Cambodia since 2001.

It is estimated that over 200,000 remains have yet to be found.

The statistics were released at a teleconference in Hanoi on December 20 to disseminate the Politburo’s instructions and the Prime Minister’s decisions and documents guiding the search and repatriation of the remains of martyrs to 2020 and beyond.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Board for the Search and Repatriation of Martyrs’ Remains, hailed all concerned for their concerted efforts over the past time, stressing that the Party and State always pay attention to this work.

He also acknowledged the tough task of scouring for those still lost due to the past drawn-out wars and the tough terrain in some areas.

Dam asked ministries, agencies and localities to raise public awareness of the relevant guidelines and policies while reviewing policies tailored to revolutionary heroes and their families.

Together with military forces, they were also requested to devise concrete and feasible plans based on their own realities.

The Ministry of National Defence must launch a national archive of martyrs and their tombs as soon as possible.

The Deputy PM asked for the early establishment of Steering Boards at the municipal, provincial and military zone levels for better coordination.-VNA