Quang Tri Province is considered one of the most seriously contaminated areas of cluster bombs in the country, with approximately 6,000 casualties since the war (in the former Quang Binh Province alone). In addition, due to unprocessed bombs and mines, many areas of land remain abandoned, and the existence of these bombs and mines hinders the development of basic infrastructure and agricultural land.
Over the past 20 years, Japan has actively supported mine clearance activities in Vietnam. In particular, for activities in the former Quang Binh province, Japan has provided a total of approximately 5.5 million USD in aid to MAG (a non- governmental organization engaged in humanitarian mine clearance activities in Vietnam) since 2015. The total area of land handed over, including 3 square kilometers at the ceremony on July 30, has reached more than 26 square kilometers, benefiting more than 137,000 local people.
Land clearance in the demining area not only ensures the safety and security of local people, but also promotes socio-economic development through the cultivation of rice, cassava, corn and other crops, the planting of eucalyptus forests, and the development of infrastructure such as roads. In addition, Japan also supports the implementation of activities to raise awareness among people, especially children, about the risks of mines and how to respond when explosives are discovered, in order to build an accident prevention system.
At the handover ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki emphasized: "Japan has experienced war and bombs have been dropped on many places in Japan. This year marks 80 years since the end of the war, but unexploded bombs and mines are still discovered in Tokyo, Nagoya and Okinawa - places that witnessed major air raids and fierce ground battles. Currently, in Vietnam, many reforms are being implemented to strongly promote economic growth. Quang Tri province has also started a new beginning since July 1 and is trying to become a new growth center of the North Central region. Therefore, ensuring a lot of safe land area, as well as safety and peace of mind for the lives of people in Quang Tri province is necessary."
Emphasizing the need for the international community to cooperate to eliminate cluster bombs and other types of landmines, Ambassador Ito Naoki added that Japan is also supporting MAG's activities and images of these activities are expected to be displayed from August 1 to 5 at the Osaka Exhibition taking place in Japan.
"I hope that MAG's activities and the unexploded ordnance that still remains in Vietnam will be more widely known to the international community and this will become a place to call for more support," Ambassador Ito Naoki said while inspecting the site where demining activities are taking place and interacting with local people.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/nhat-ban-ho-tro-viet-nam-trong-du-an-ra-pha-bom-min-o-quang-tri-i776586/
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