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| Members of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) carried out bomb detection in Gio Linh District, Quảng Trị Province. — Photo courtesy of NPA |
QUẢNG TRỊ — The central province of Quảng Trị has assigned organisations to clear about 42 million sq.m. of land contaminated with cluster bombs this year, said its steering committee for settling war-left unexploded ordnance (UXO) consequences.
The committee noted that in 2024, it will continue operating the mine action information management system; collecting, processing, and updating information about the organisations’ activities on the mine action database; and applying information technology to enhance the capacity of coordinating UXO settlement efforts.
It has also asked the provincial Military Command to submit proposals about support for UXO surveys in remaining areas so as to finish surveying across Quảng Trị in 2026-27 period and draw maps of UXO-contaminated areas.
From 2015 to April 2023, the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) surveyed traces of cluster bombs in all accessible areas in Quảng Trị. It found 1,270 dangerous areas covering 615 sq.km of cluster bomb-polluted land, including 173 sq.km already cleared by international non-governmental organisations and the provincial Military Command and the remaining 442 sq.km. still being handled.
That has helped draw maps of confirmed dangerous areas and identify all the places contaminated with bombs, mines, and explosive materials needing clearance. It has also assisted relevant parties to gain an overview of the local UXO situation to make clearance plans.
Quảng Tri, located in the frontline between North and South Việt Nam during the Resistance War against America, was the most UXO-contaminated locality in the country. Since 1975, when the war officially came to an end with the reunification of Việt Nam, UXOs have caused over 8,540 casualties, including 3,432 deaths, in Quảng Tri. In particular, 31 per cent of the casualties are people aged under 16.
The province looks to become safe from UXOs left from war in 2025. — VNS
