Conference looks to strengthen support for UXO victims
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and The International Center, an NGO, held a conference on December 14 to enhance international cooperation in aiding bomb and mine victims.
Soldiers search for unexploded bombs and mines in central Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and TheInternational Center, a non-governmental organisation, held a conference inHanoi on December 14 to enhance international cooperation in aiding bomb andmine victims.
Datashows that there are about 800,000 tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXO) leftfrom war in Vietnam, contaminating nearly 20 percent of the country’s area andkilling and injuring more than 100,000 people since the American war ended in1975.
Inpast years, the Vietnamese Government has made efforts to settle UXOconsequences as evidenced by the national action programme on settling post-war bomb and landmineimpacts for 2010-2025. Assisting UXO victims is among important activities ofthis programme.
However, addressing UXO consequences andsupporting victims requires considerable human and material resources.
At the conference, participants sharedinformation about support for UXO victims, the settlement of post-war UXOconsequences, and plans for future activities. They discussed solutions to assistvictims and help them with social reintergration.
They also gave opinions on a draft plan on assistingUXO victims’ reintegration which will be combined with a support programmetargeting people with disabilities between 2017 and 2020.
The plan focuses on medical services for victims,developing functional rehabilitation systems, supporting means of living, andmaking mechanisms and policies for social services development.-VNA
Over 83 percent of central Quang Tri province’s area were contaminated with bombs, mines and explosives left from wars, according to statistics collected from a recent survey.
The Prime Minister has instructed relevant agencies to take comprehensive measures to minimise damage and injuries caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO).
More than 67 million USD has been poured into the central province of Quang Tri to help it clear bombs and mines left from the war over the past two decades.
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Soldiers search for unexploded bombs and mines in central Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA) 
