Vietnam addresses post-war UXO consequences
(VOVWORLD) - Today is International Mine Awareness Day, April 4. It is estimated that more than 6 million ha of land or 19 per cent of Vietnam’s total area are contaminated with bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) left by wars, which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces nationwide.
Nguyen Ba Hoan, Chief of Office of the Ministry of the Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said the Party and the State have always paid great attention to overcoming war aftermaths. He said:“UN Sustainable Development Program 2030 defines overcoming consequences of UXOs and war consequences a major goal. In Vietnam, the Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of National Defense to accelerate decontamination of toxic areas. Despite encouraging results, it requires tens of billions of USD to remove all landmines and UXOs left from the wars in Vietnam, not to mention billions of USD to be spent on resettlement and social security in areas contaminated with landmines and UXOs.”