International and domestic delegates gathered on November 19 in Quang Tri to find ways of minimising accidents caused by post-war bombs and landmines in central provinces.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Minister of Labours, Invalid and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Bui Hong Linh said bombs and landmines were a continual threat to people’s lives, contaminating water sources and causing deaths or serious injuries to those who live in contaminated areas.

“Most victims are young men who used to be the main family bread-winners, but have now become a burden of their families, so more action plans are needed to be implemented to assure people’s safety,” Linh said.

Viet Nam Bomb and Mine Clearance Action Centre director Nguyen Trong Canh said Viet Nam had spent hundreds of millions of dong for its activities; however, the number of unexploded UXO remained huge and the clear-up requires large amounts of time and effort.

The latest report from the Ministry of National Defence showed that nearly 6.6 million hectares of land, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the country’s total land area, are contaminated and are home to unexploded bombs or landmines.

The number of unexploded bombs, mines and other UXO is estimated to reach more than 800,000 tonnes, and it may take Viet Nam up to three hundreds years and a cost of US$10 billion to be entirely free. Each year, more than 2,000 people are killed or injured due to this potential danger.

Nguyen Duc Chinh, vice chairman of the Quang Tri People’s Committee, where nearly 84 per cent of the contaminated area is located, said more education and promotion work needed to be taken to raise awareness about the danger of unexploded UXO, especially among those living in rural areas.

“More trained volunteers are needed to educate high-risk groups such as children and men aged between 5 to 45; including effective ways to avoid UXOs and support for the victims in the province,” Chinh said.

All representatives agreed that a national-level project on bombs and mine clearance in the six central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien- Hue city, should be finished and submitted to the Government in the upcoming time.

Roger Hess, Golden West managing director, said the organisation would test more effective detectors in Viet Nam that shorten search times and give better results.

As many as 1,700 books on mine risk education for children were given to local authorities yesterday. Previously 1,000 copies had been given to primary and secondary students at schools in the province.

The seminar, organised by the MoLISA, the Ministry of National Defence, Vietnam Bomb and Mine Clearance Action Centre and the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspapernisations.

VietNamNet/VNS