PANO – Since 1999, the Central province of Thua Thien-Hue has received over US$ 10 million for post-war unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance programs from governments, international agencies and non-governmental organizations.
They include the Federal Ministries for Foreign Affairs and for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAID), Australian Volunteers International (AVI), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Clear Path International (CPI), German Solidarity Service International (SODI), Norway People’s Aid (NPA), and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF).
These financial packages, of which a half are from the German Government and non-governmental organizations, have been spent effectively in freeing more than 1,200ha of land from UXOs, finding and defusing about 52,000 bombs and mines, supporting victims of bombs and mines, and heightening the public’s awareness of the consequences of bombs and mines.
According to the provincial Department of External Affairs, though the amount of these funds is still modest, they have helped protect people’s lives and enhance their living standards, ensure social order, and promote local socio-economic development.
Being one of six provinces nationwide with the highest rates of bomb and mine pollution, Thua Thien-Hue has actively outlined specific plans to attract more foreign investment for this work, like projects to remove UXOs, rehabilitate and provide health check-ups and medicines for UXO victims, supply clean water for UXO-affected areas, and raise public knowledge about UXO in the hotspots of A Luoi, Phong Dien, Nam Dong and Huong Tra districts.
Translated by Pham Huy
Đăng ký: VietNam News