Hanoi (VNA) – Post-war bombs andmines have remained a daily threat to people and a headache for Governments ofmany countries worldwide, including Vietnam.

It is estimated that more than 6.1 millionha of land or 18.71 percent of Vietnam’s total area are contaminated with about800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) left by wars, whichare scattered over all 63 cities and provinces in the country, with the centralregion the hardest hit.

Between 1975 and now, bombs and mineskilled more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others, many of whom are familybreadwinners and children.

Over 2,000 sappers died and got injuredwhile searching for bombs and mines during the period.

Right after the end of war, the VietnameseParty and State have identified the settlement of consequences caused by war-leftbombs, mines and UXO as an urgent but regular, long-term task.

On April 21, 2010, the Prime Minister approveda national action programme on overcoming post-war bomb and mine consequencesduring 2010-2025 (Programme 504), aiming to mobilise domestic and foreign resourcesfor these efforts.

During 2010-2015, the programme focused onsurveying and drawing up a map of danger zones of bombs, mines and UXO. Acentre was set up to manage data of bomb and mine victims, contaminationsituation and countermeasures.

For the 2016-2025 period, the Governmentaims to clear about 800,000 ha of bomb-and mine-polluted land, while callingfor domestic and international resources for the implementation of theprogramme.

At the same time, residents living in thedanger zones will be relocated and bomb and mine clearance projects will beadded to local socio-economic development plans.

The Prime Minister issued a decision on May24, 2017 on the establishment of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Committee 701).

The committee has been tasked withproposing solutions to mobilise donations at home and abroad for the settlementof consequences of post-war bombs, mines and toxic chemicals in Vietnam.

Apart from the Vietnamese Government’sefforts, international donors and non-governmental organisations have providedequipment and finance to support the settlement of bomb and mine consequencesin the country.

Thanks to the joint efforts, each year,Vietnam decontaminated from 40,000-50,000 ha of land. However, it will take morethan a century to clear all bombs and mines in the country, with an estimatedcost of over 10 billion USD, excluding spending on resettlement and socialwelfare work in the danger zones.

In Vietnam, 40 social service centres and400 rehabilitation centres have been established so far to assist people withdisabilities, including victims of post-war bombs and mines.

All bomb and mines victims in the countryhave been entitled to social welfare benefits such as free health insurancecards and support in functional rehabilitation and vocational training.-VNA