Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamwill push ahead with the settlement of wartime unexploded ordnance (UXO) consequencesand also expects continued assistance from international partners in this work,Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a conference in Hanoi on February 17.

The meeting reviewed thenational mine action programme, also called Programme 504, during 2010 - 2020and set up orientations for 2021 - 2025.

Prior to the programme, 6.1million ha of land in Vietnam was contaminated with UXO, 18.82percent of the country’s total.

During 2010 - 2020, UXOdetection and clearance were carried out on 485,000ha at a total cost of over12.61 trillion VND (553.3 million USD), including more than 10.4 trillion VNDfrom the domestic budget and nearly 2.2 trillion VND in foreign non-refundableaid. As a result, the UXO-contaminated land has been shrunk to 5.6 million ha,equivalent to 17.71 percent of the country’s area, according to the national steeringcommittee for settling post-war UXO and toxic chemicals.

It noted the non-refundableofficial development assistance (ODA) projects funded by the governments of othercountries, including the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and Norway,and international organisations like MAG, NPA, Golden West, SODI, and PeaceTree, have also generated practical benefits for people and substantially contributedto social development in Vietnam.

Addressing the event, PM Chinhsaid the wartime UXO poses a daily threat to people and also a hindrence tosocio-economic development, citing preliminary statistics as showing that since1975, the deadly legacy of wars have killed more than 40,000 people and injured60,000 others.

Given this, Vietnam has made activemoves in settling war consequences, including UXO, over the past many years, hesaid, noting that Programme 504 is important to socio-economic development aswell as the stabilisation of people’s life.

Over 5,000 UXO victims andother affected people have received assistance in health care, vocational training,and livelihoods. Besides, hundreds of thousands of people, especially those in theareas heavily polluted with UXO, have accessed methods for preventing UXOaccidents. Notably, the number of UXO accidents has been reduced significantly,with many localities already free of such incidents for many years.

Vietnam will push ahead withmine action and remain a trustworthy partner, an active and responsible memberof the international community, PM Chinh stated, calling on other governments,ambassadors, international organisations, and sponsors to continue their supportto help Vietnam get rid of UXO impacts.

He also appealed for jointefforts to prevent wars and armed conflicts so that all peoples around theworld will no longer suffer./.