(VOVWORLD) - April 4th was designated International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action by the UN General Assembly to raise people's awareness of landmines and explosive remnants left over from war. With the goal of becoming a country free of landmines, Vietnam has redoubled its efforts to resolve the problem of landmines in order to ensure safety for the people and boost socio-economic development.
 The sappers remove a bomb left over from the war. Photo: Minh Nhan) |
The Vietnamese Party and State consider addressing landmines and explosive remnants left over from war a top priority.
50 years of clearing landmines
Immediately after the war ended, Vietnam began investing resources in resolving the problem of landmines. Landmines and unexploded ordnances are scattered in all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam, but most are concentrated in the central provinces. Some localities in Quang Binh and Quang Tri, the two most contaminated provinces, have landmine contamination over 80% of their areas.
Since the national action program on mine action was launched in 2010, landmine removal activities have been stepped up. Vietnam has been clearing about 30,000 hectares a year. But the total area contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with mines is 6.1 million hectares.
The Vietnam National Mine Action Center was established 10 years ago, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently approved an Action Plan to maximize resources to minimize the effects of landmines on socio-economic development.
 Major General Nguyen Thanh Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Mine Remediation Support (photo: VOV) |
Major General Nguyen Thanh Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Mine Remediation Support, said: “The Vietnamese Party and State are determined to mobilize more domestic and international resources and enhance landmine clearance activities in order to facilitate production and socio-economic development.”
Vietnam has launched communication and education activities to raise people's awareness of accident prevention. Lieutenant Colonel Dau Phi Truong of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center said: “Recently communications have been used very effectively to inform people of the dangers of landmines. Direct education and communications have been enhanced in key areas and mine-contaminated areas. We have organized school ambassador competitions at schools in contaminated areas. The topic was also put on the agenda at public meetings and voter meetings to increase awareness and understanding.”
Strengthening international cooperation for a safer world
Landmines are a painful problem in many countries around the world. Vietnam always emphasizes the importance of public awareness and international cooperation in addressing the problem of landmines.
Vietnam has participated in many international cooperation mechanisms, such as the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, that try to prohibit or restrict the use of certain conventional weapons considered excessively injurious or whose effects are indiscriminate. It has mobilized countries and international organizations to play a role in addressing landmines and bombs in Vietnam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: “Vietnam will continue to address the consequences of remnants of war, and calls on countries, international organizations, and donors to continue to help Vietnam get rid of landmines. Let's build trust together, join hands to preserve peace, strengthen friendly relations, cooperate for mutual development, and bring safety and happiness to all people.”
On International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Vietnam once again calls on the world to end all armed conflicts so people around the world will no longer suffer the tragic consequences of landmines and bombs.