Promote activities to support and help victims of bombs and mines

On the afternoon of April 4, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) held a press conference to inform about the work of overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines in Vietnam and to respond to the World Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

April 4th is chosen as the World Mine Awareness Day every year, with many events and activities held around the world, as a commitment of the United Nations in its efforts for a world free of mines and explosive remnants of war. As one of the countries that has suffered the most from the consequences of mines and explosive remnants of war, over the years Vietnam has always made efforts to carry out mine collection and clearance campaigns to liberate land, serve the people's welfare and socio-economic development; at the same time, promoting activities to support and help victims of mines.

Photo caption — *The work of overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines in Vietnam was informed at the press conference.*

According to the representative of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the country has over 7.06 million people with disabilities, including tens of thousands of people who are victims of bombs and mines and have been exposed to Agent Orange/dioxine. After the war, Vietnam paid great attention to overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines, including clearing bombs and mines, providing social assistance for bomb and mine victims to reintegrate into the community, and propagating and educating the people on mine accident prevention. "These tasks have been actively implemented by ministries, branches and localities. In particular, the work of supporting mine victims and reintegrating into the community implemented by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has achieved many important successes, partly meeting the needs of the subjects, creating conditions for mine victims to reintegrate into the community. Mine victims need rehabilitation and social assistance from the State and the community to be able to participate in learning, working, economic and social activities. Essential services for mine victims include: Orthopedics, rehabilitation; counseling, consultation, psychological therapy, physical therapy, treatment through labor, social work, speech therapy, vocational training, employment services, and enjoyment of social welfare policies," said Ms. Pham Thi Hai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Protection.

In recent years, the Party, the State and the Prime Minister have issued many policies and laws on overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines and assisting people with disabilities, including bomb and mine victims. Regarding health care and rehabilitation, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, has focused on studying and amending the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, including regulations on Rehabilitation and Community-based Rehabilitation; amending the Law on Health Insurance, including the goal of increasing the scope and coverage of health insurance payments for people with disabilities... Up to now, the system of hospitals, centers, specialized facilities and rehabilitation departments continues to be consolidated and developed from the central to local levels with 63 hospitals/rehabilitation centers, 100% of central and provincial general hospitals have rehabilitation departments and provide rehabilitation services right at the hospital for patients, especially chronic patients, patients with acute injuries, and post-surgery.

In 2022, the whole country surveyed an area of over 35,000 hectares, cleared over 27,000 hectares of mines and bombs; of which international organizations surveyed nearly 7,000 hectares, cleared 4,800 hectares; domestic units surveyed more than 28,000 hectares; cleared over 22,200 hectares. The National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) organized propaganda activities in response to the International Day for Raising Awareness of Mine Hazards on April 4, 2022, propagating the current situation and consequences to educate people in Lang Son and Tay Ninh about mine accident prevention with good results. The Center coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to support 20 mine victims in difficult circumstances to stabilize their lives; Implementing activities to support mine victims from the Vietnam - Korea Project on Cooperation in Overcoming the Consequences of Post-War Mines and Bombs (KVMAP), the total number of mine victims in the two provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh was 6,249, of which Quang Binh had 5,177 victims (1,519 were female and 3,658 were male) and Binh Dinh had 1,072 victims (240 were female and 832 were male). Trained a core team of high-level social workers with mine victims, 79 of whom were Binh Dinh and Quang Binh; Participated in mine action activities of the United Nations, ASEAN region and international organizations. Chaired the activities of mine working groups in Vietnam; Expanded relations with potential partners, implemented effective and practical cooperation; Sign and promote the parties to implement the signed memorandum of understanding in the field of mine action.

The Center is implementing the project "Phase 3 Mine Action Clearance in A Luoi District, Thua Thien Hue Province"; the project "Piloting the Process and Risk Management Toolkit for Mine Action in Vietnam"; the project "Information Management System in Mine Action" for the period 2020 - 2023; the project "Coordination and provision of senior technical advisors for VNMAC" according to plan, safety, quality... Colonel Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) said: According to statistics, by 2022, the total area still contaminated is very large, about 5.6 million hectares, equivalent to 17.71%, so it will take a lot of time and resources to completely clean up contaminated areas, bringing a safe life to the people, contributing to the sustainable development of the country. In 2023, the plan to overcome the consequences of bombs and mines will focus on collecting data to prepare a summary report on the implementation of the National Action Program to overcome the consequences of post-war bombs and mines for the period 2010 - 2025, proposing the Program for the period 2025 - 2045 with a vision to 2050. Develop a mechanism to mobilize domestic and international funding; complete and submit for promulgation a national strategy on mine accident risk education as a basis for developing a plan and implementation content to meet the requirements of synchronization and unity nationwide. "This year, the Steering Committee for the National Action Program to overcome the consequences of bombs and mines will complete the dossier proposing the development of an ordinance on overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines to submit to the Government and the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration in July 2023," said Colonel Nguyen Hanh Phuc. The Steering Committee also collects and enters data on overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines into the national information management system; maintains and implements the Information Management Regulations to ensure strict compliance with regulations. In response to the World Day for Mine Action on April 4, 2023, the National Steering Committee for overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines and toxic chemicals after the war in Vietnam (Steering Committee 701), the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) continues to organize and launch an online contest on how to recognize and prevent bomb and mine accidents on the website: http://vnmac.gov.vn/. The contest aims to promote propaganda work, raise awareness of preventing and avoiding accidents caused by bombs and mines, explosives left over from war in Vietnam to the general public nationwide.

News and photos: XM/Tin Tuc Newspaper