UXO clearance - an uphill task in Vietnam
11:40, 2014/03/13
Decades after the end of the US war, an abundance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain scattered across the nation, a legacy posing a continuous threat of exploding, expected to take Vietnam centuries to clear.
In an interview with Thanh Nien online, Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh quoted initial surveys as indicating all 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam report leftover bombs and mines, with 6.6 million ha of land contaminated with UXO, or 21.12% of the country’s total land area.
Vietnam needs tens of billions of US dollars and hundreds of years to dispose of bombs and mines and clean up the contaminated land, Vinh said.
UXO poses potential risks to people’s lives and economic production. Statistics show approximately 100,000 people have fallen victim to UXO explosions over the years, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths. Most of the victims were major income earners in the family.
Every year the State spends some VND1,000 billion on bomb and mine clearance and hundreds of billions on functional rehabilitation, vocational training and resettlement for the victims.
Leftover bombs and mines also cause environmental pollution, and affect the exploitation and use of natural resources, as well as socio-economic development.
Bomb and mine clearance is now conducted by infantry forces, more than 50 military-run businesses, and several missions funded by international non-governmental organisations.
The disposal is done both on land and at sea, with priority given to severely contaminated localities such as central provinces and provinces close to the Vietnam-China border.
On average between 30,000 and 35,000 ha of contaminated land is cleaned up every year and the figure is expected to be raised to 100,000ha in a couple of years, said Vinh.
However, he admitted lack of funding, poorly equipped devices, and outdated technology are the major obstacles to UXO clearance.
Vietnam has established a steering committee to implement the national programme of action on settling the consequences of unexploded ordnance (Committee 504).
Since 1990 nearly 40 foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have provided humanitarian assistance to bomb and mine detection and removal in Vietnam.
The aid has been focused on surveys, cartography in the contaminated land, UXO disposal, functional rehabilitation, resettlement, and integration for victims, and communications.
A number of foreign countries have also lent a helping hand to UXO clearance to ease war aftermath in Vietnam.
Between 2004 and 2009, under the auspices of the US Department of State, the Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation (VVAF) and the Vietnam Centre for Bomb and Mine Disposal (BOMICEN) jointly conducted a survey evaluating the impact of bombs and mines left over from the war in the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Ngai.
In 2010 the governments of Norway and the US funded the building of a bomb and mine data base in Vietnam. The governments of Britain, Belgium, and India also received Vietnamese officials for refresher courses on UXO clearance.
In 2013 the US government and Committee 504 signed a memorandum of understanding to support leftover bomb and mine disposal in Vietnam. The governments of Britain, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany are considering additional support for Committee 504.
Vietnam will host a development partners’ conference on leftover UXO clearance in Hanoi on March 14.
UXO poses potential risks to people’s lives and economic production. Statistics show approximately 100,000 people have fallen victim to UXO explosions over the years, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths. Most of the victims were major income earners in the family.
Every year the State spends some VND1,000 billion on bomb and mine clearance and hundreds of billions on functional rehabilitation, vocational training and resettlement for the victims.
Leftover bombs and mines also cause environmental pollution, and affect the exploitation and use of natural resources, as well as socio-economic development.
Bomb and mine clearance is now conducted by infantry forces, more than 50 military-run businesses, and several missions funded by international non-governmental organisations.
The disposal is done both on land and at sea, with priority given to severely contaminated localities such as central provinces and provinces close to the Vietnam-China border.
On average between 30,000 and 35,000 ha of contaminated land is cleaned up every year and the figure is expected to be raised to 100,000ha in a couple of years, said Vinh.
However, he admitted lack of funding, poorly equipped devices, and outdated technology are the major obstacles to UXO clearance.
Vietnam has established a steering committee to implement the national programme of action on settling the consequences of unexploded ordnance (Committee 504).
Since 1990 nearly 40 foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have provided humanitarian assistance to bomb and mine detection and removal in Vietnam.
The aid has been focused on surveys, cartography in the contaminated land, UXO disposal, functional rehabilitation, resettlement, and integration for victims, and communications.
A number of foreign countries have also lent a helping hand to UXO clearance to ease war aftermath in Vietnam.
Between 2004 and 2009, under the auspices of the US Department of State, the Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation (VVAF) and the Vietnam Centre for Bomb and Mine Disposal (BOMICEN) jointly conducted a survey evaluating the impact of bombs and mines left over from the war in the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Ngai.
In 2010 the governments of Norway and the US funded the building of a bomb and mine data base in Vietnam. The governments of Britain, Belgium, and India also received Vietnamese officials for refresher courses on UXO clearance.
In 2013 the US government and Committee 504 signed a memorandum of understanding to support leftover bomb and mine disposal in Vietnam. The governments of Britain, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany are considering additional support for Committee 504.
Vietnam will host a development partners’ conference on leftover UXO clearance in Hanoi on March 14.
22:43, 2025/02/12
Hanoi boosts digital transformation in cadastral administration
To streamline residence management and reduce land paperwork, Hanoi is speeding up the digitization of land use rights and assets and cleaning up the city's land data.
21:16, 2025/02/06
Reviving To Lich River: Replenishing water from Red River and West lakes
Taking the water from the Red River and the West Lake to clean To Lich River is just one piece of the puzzle. Drastic actions are needed to keep the environment clean and green.
18:38, 2025/01/30
Urenco strives for a cleaner environment in Hanoi
Innovation in garbage collection vehicles is an important step in ensuring environmental sanitation, contributing to building a civilized, clean and beautiful urban area in a sustainable direction.
09:55, 2025/01/26
Hanoi promotes urban decorations for Tet
The "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement demonstrates Hanoi's unwavering commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection.
22:21, 2025/01/15
Hanoi to increase supply of essential goods by 30%-35% for Tet
Authorities in Hanoi planned to prevent price hikes during the national holiday by stocking up on goods and ensuring food supplies.