Hanoi (VNA) – The NationalSteering Committee for Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and ToxicChemical Consequences plans to build a centre providing medical support for victimsof toxic chemicals including dioxin during the period from 2018 to 2020.

The centre is part of thesteering committee’s working programme for 2018-2020 which was approved inDecision 406/QD-BCDKPBMHH signed by the committee’s head – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc.

The working programme isdesigned to accelerate the settlement of consequences caused by post-war UXOsand toxic chemicals to basically fulfil the goals set by the national plan ofactions in the field for 2010-2025.

The specific targets set by theprogramme include remove UXO in 50,000 hectares of land each year in order toreduce the rate of UXO contamination to under 15 percent of the country’s totalarea, and detoxify 35 percent of soil volume contaminated by dioxin in the BienHoa airport (southern Dong Nai province).

Another goal is mobilize internationalsupport in various forms from financing, human resources, equipment andtechnology for the country’s efforts to settle consequences of post-war UXO andtoxic chemicals.

The committee will direct theimplementation of several pilot projects on detoxifying dioxin and other toxicchemicals in order to seek a suitable technology for Vietnam. It will build andcarry out a project on treating pollution caused by dioxin and toxic chemicals atBien Hoa airport using non-refundable aid from the US government and legalfinancial sources of organisations and individuals.

The committee will provide supportto localities in carrying out projects to help UXO victims re-integrate intothe community, while upgrading rehabilitation facilities for UXO victims athospitals, among other tasks.-VNA