Overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs, mines and explosives

The number of bombs, mines and explosives left over from the war in our country is still large, with the contaminated land area of ​​about 5.6 million hectares, equivalent to 17.71% of the country's natural land area. Many bomb, mine and explosive accidents have caused casualties to people, greatly affecting and influencing socio-economic activities.

The BAC4 (PeaceTrees Quang Tri ) bomb and mine clearance team deployed to clear hilly areas in Dakrong district, bringing productive land to the people (photo taken in May 2024). Photo: Minh Duc/VNA

Requires large financial resources

According to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense , every year, Vietnam has to spend thousands of billions of VND on post-war mine clearance to ensure people's safety, free up land for socio-economic development, and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.

In addition, since 1995, Vietnam has received great support from the international community, in which the main partners are the Governments of the United States, South Korea, Japan, international organizations and foreign non-governmental organizations such as: United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Geneva International Humanitarian Mine Action Center (GICHD); Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), Peace Tree Vietnam (Peace Tree Vietnam), Min Advisory Group (MAG), CRS.

Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Head of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee 701, said that the results of resource mobilization and international cooperation in the recent period were very remarkable. Those results have been realized through specific support and assistance programs and plans in localities; the number of victims of mine accidents has continuously decreased, in the last 3 years there were only 2 victims of accidents compared to previous years, now it has decreased a lot.

Many bomb and mine victims have been provided with favorable conditions, guidance, and employment to improve their lives and integrate into the community. “These are great achievements of the Vietnamese Government and the cooperation of the US Government and other countries and international organizations,” Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien noted.

However, the work of overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines in Vietnam is also facing many difficulties and challenges. Among them, the budget is still limited, human resources and equipment for mine clearance, freeing up land for socio-economic development, improving people's lives; the policy and regime issues have not met the requirements to accelerate the work of overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines; the international funding mobilization has not yet developed a long-term plan, the funding partners have not been expanded...

There are still 5.6 million hectares of area contaminated with bombs, mines and explosives.

Currently, the whole country still has 5.6 million hectares of land contaminated with bombs, mines and explosives left over from the war. The funding needed to clean up bombs, mines and explosives to ensure safety for workers, production and socio-economic development is about 203,600 billion VND (equivalent to 770 million USD). In addition to mobilizing enough funding, ensuring sufficient capacity of equipment and human resources to carry out this work is necessary.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that in 2025, the Ministry of National Defense approved the Project "Improving the capacity to overcome the consequences of post-war bombs and mines in Vietnam"; accordingly, by 2030, Vietnam will have enough human and equipment capacity to achieve the goal of completing the clearance of bombs, mines and explosives before 2065.

“With the direction of the Party and State; the drastic management of the Government; the participation of the entire political system from the central to local levels; and the companionship and support of countries, international organizations, and the support of the people, the Ministry of National Defense believes that the work of overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs, mines, and explosives in Vietnam will soon achieve the set goals,” Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed.

Since 2020, Vietnam has mobilized 138.5 million USD from governments and international organizations for mine clearance, education on mine accident prevention, and supporting poor people's livelihoods.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/khac-phuc-hau-qua-bom-min-vat-no-sau-chien-tranh-20251020180806419.htm