Quang Tri hopes the United States will continue to fund programs to overcome the consequences of bombs and mines.

On February 19, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province sent a dispatch requesting the Ambassador and his colleagues from the US Embassy in Vietnam to report and propose that the US State Department consider exempting or shortening the implementation period of the suspension of international aid policy or conducting a review and assessment while allowing programs and projects to overcome the consequences of bombs and mines to continue.

Discovery and handling of ammunition dump in Gio Linh district - Photo: NPA/RENEW

In a letter to Mr. Marc E. Knapper - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Overcoming War Consequences of Quang Tri Province, Hoang Nam stated: For many years, programs and projects on surveying and clearing mines and bombs implemented by foreign non-governmental organizations funded by the US State Department have made an important contribution to reducing the risk of remaining mines and bombs, freeing up land for livelihood development and bringing safety to the community in Quang Tri.

There are currently 4 projects being implemented in Quang Tri province, including: Environmental restoration and overcoming the consequences of war (RENEW); Community liaison and clearance of bombs, mines and explosives in Quang Tri province, phase VII (2021 - 2025); Search and handling of bombs, mines and explosives to minimize hazards and support the socio-economic development plan of Quang Tri province for the period 2021 - 2025; Capacity development for the Quang Tri Provincial Mine Action Center (QTMAC) for the period 2022 - 2025.

By December 31, 2024, organizations had completed clearing 24,139 hectares, equivalent to 38.9% of the cluster bomb contaminated area in Quang Tri province. Currently, Quang Tri still has 37,808 hectares of cluster bomb contaminated land that need to be cleared and cleaned to serve people's lives and socio-economic development.

From February 4 to 14, 2025, through the hotline, Quang Tri province received 23 calls from people about the discovery of bombs, mines and explosives after the war. Currently, with the province's resources, only 3/23 calls have been handled, there are still explosives that threaten the safety of people every day and hinder the livelihood activities of the community.

However, currently, in the context of the US Government adjusting and re-evaluating its foreign aid policy, Quang Tri province is facing many difficulties in maintaining and continuing to implement projects and programs for surveying and clearing mines.

The US Government's decision to temporarily suspend foreign aid programs, including the mine remediation program in Quang Tri, has caused the locality to face a major challenge in ensuring people's safety from the risks of mine and explosive accidents, while also deeply affecting socio-economic activities in areas confirmed to be dangerous due to cluster bombs that have been surveyed.

Therefore, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province requested Ambassador Marc E. Knapper and his colleagues from the US Embassy to report and propose that the US State Department consider exempting or shortening the implementation period of the suspension of international aid policy or conducting a review and assessment while allowing the programs and projects to continue. Maintaining funding for these projects not only helps Quang Tri province overcome the consequences of war, but also contributes to ensuring community safety and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

On the same day, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam signed a document reporting on the suspension of US Government-funded projects in Quang Tri to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report said that the above projects help free up land for livelihood development, ensure safety for the community and society; support more than 1,500 people with disabilities, including victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and bomb and mine victims, to integrate into the community, improve livelihoods, training programs for medical staff and access to rehabilitation and care services; and create jobs for more than 1,000 local workers.

The People's Committee of Quang Tri province requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider and have appropriate communication channels with the US Government, requesting the US Government, the US Department of State and US development cooperation partners to exempt or shorten the time for evaluating aid programs to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam or to conduct reviews and evaluations while allowing programs and projects to continue to be implemented according to the approved decision of the Prime Minister.

Previously, the US Government requested foreign non-governmental organizations receiving funding from the US Government, including the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), to suspend their operations for 90 days, starting from January 25, 2025, to conduct assessments and reviews. This decision applies globally, including Quang Tri province.

Quang Hai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quang-tri-mong-muon-hoa-ky-tiep-tuc-tai-tro-nbsp-cac-chuong-trinh-khac-phuc-hau-qua-bom-min-191831.htm