A workshop to enhance partnerships in post-war action against mines inVietnam was held in Hanoi on December 14 as part of the national actionplan to manage unexploded ordnance between 2010 and 2015 (Programme504).
The event attracted representatives from ministries, agencies, embassies, international and non-governmental organisations.
Chair of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids andSocial Affairs, Bui Hong Linh, said unexploded ordnance (UXO) has causednegative impacts on socio-economic development, security, theenvironment and people’s lives and living conditions.
Eachyear, Vietnam has to spend trillions of VND on mine clearance,treatment of victims, and dealing with direct and indirect aftermath ofUXO.
According to Linh, the country has cleared100,000s of hectares of land contaminated with mines and improved themine clearance capacity of local staff.
TheGovernment has paid due attention to the resettlement of local people inunsafe areas, while the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and SocialAffairs (MoLISA), localities and NGOs have conducted programmes to helpthe victims of unexploded bombs integrate into the community, he said.
However, to manage the effect of UXO, it is necessary to notonly moblise all resources at home and abroad, but also enhancepartnerships in the task, Linh said.
The governmentpledged to provide sufficient information and cooperation with partnersto use funding provided effectively, as well as encourage theparticipation and supervision of local people, he added.
UN Resident Coordinator to Vietnam Pratibha Mehta affirmed thatdealing with UXO is a requisite condition for Vietnam ’s development.
In her opinion, the Vietnamese Government has madeefforts to clear UXO. However, this problem cannot be dealt with by theGovernment alone – more international support is required, she said.
She also pointed to four issues that need further attention.They are closer partnership between Government, donors and NGOs, clearaction plans and a close management framework to coordinate contributingfunding and activities, up-to-date information on unsafe areas and theprogress of Programme 504, and better education of UXO dangers tomitigate risks faced by local people.
Launched in 2012,Programme 504 affirms the Government’s determination to mobilise allresources at home and abroad to accelerate the management process ofpost-war bomb consequences, contributing to the country’s socio-economicdevelopment and the implementation of national targets.
The programme needs 14 trillion VND (700 million USD) from now until 2015, 300 million USD of which will come from ODA.
It is expected that by 2015, 500,000 hectares of contaminated landwill be cleared to serve economic development and social security.
At the event, local and international NGOs pledged to continuetheir role in sharing knowledge and technology in the field withVietnam.-VNA