Central city to start landmines education project for kids

March 02, 2017 - 11:30

The central city people’s committee will start an education on landmines and bomb awareness and accidents project with funding from the US’s Secretary through Catholic Relief Service organisation in 2017-20.

Landmines and mortar shells shelling are found in a former battle field in central Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Công Thành
Viet Nam News

ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city People’s Committee will start a landmine and bomb awareness and education project funded by the United States Secretary through Catholic Relief Service organisation.

The city said the VNĐ855 million (US$37,800) project will aim to spread awareness about landmines and bomb-related accidents for students at schools and field trips education from 2017-2020.

The city, in co-operation with relevant agencies and its US partner, plans to implement the project in the second quarter this year.

Last year, the Đà Nẵng-based branch of the Bomb and Mine Action Support Association donated VNĐ240 million ($11,000) to support 20 landmine victims in seven districts of the city.

According to a survey in 2002, nearly 96.6 million hectares of land across Việt Nam are contaminated with post-war unexploded ordnance (UXO), accounting for 21.12 percent of the country’s land.

UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000.

In 2012, a US government-funded programme to remove unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines was launched in the central province of Quảng Nam Province

In 2013, Danish Demining Group (DDG) Việt Nam also launched an education project for the prevention of accidents related to landmines and UXO in Quảng Nam province’s Duy Xuyên District.

The Peace Trees Việt Nam, a NGO from the US, built up the Danaan Parry Landmines Education Centre in Quảng Trị Province to provide landmine awareness education for provincial residents and children. — VNS

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