Vietnam always stands side by side with the international community to clear and support mine victims.

Vietnam has gone through wars of national liberation and defense to achieve the peace it has today. But even though living in peace, the consequences of those wars still exist, not only leaving serious consequences for people, wars also have terrible devastation to the environment, that is toxic chemicals, that is bombs and mines that have been scattered on the land and water, destroying the living environment of people and nature. Bombs and mines, explosives left by war in Vietnam are a daily danger to the people, a burning issue for the country, causing many difficulties in production and life, hindering economic and social development.

Vietnam always stands side by side with the international community to clear and support mine victims. Photo: Internet.

Although the war has been over for several decades, hundreds of thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition remain everywhere, including urban and rural areas, fields and rivers.

More than anyone else, the Party, State and People of Vietnam deeply understand the serious consequences of wars. Therefore, over the past many years, Vietnam has been active and proactive in overcoming the consequences of war in general and the consequences of mines and bombs in particular. The National Action Program to Overcome the Consequences of Post-War Mines and Bombs for the 2010-2025 period (abbreviated as Program 504), the promulgation of Program 504 has important significance for the cause of building and developing the country's economy and society, stabilizing people's lives, demonstrating the profound humanity, responsibility and efforts of the Party and State to soon eliminate the dangers of mines and bombs left by war in Vietnam.

After 10 years of implementing Program 504, it can be affirmed that the work of overcoming post-war consequences in general, including overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines, has been effectively implemented and achieved many important results.

With this achievement, Vietnam acknowledges and appreciates the valuable assistance of many international partners to Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines in recent times.

In April 2023, the Vietnamese delegation led by Major General Tran Trung Hoa, General Director of VNMAC, attended activities at the event commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Support at the United Nations Headquarters (April 4). Through the event, the position of Vietnam in general and VNMAC in particular in overcoming the consequences of war-related bombs and mines in the international arena was affirmed.

The Vietnamese delegation had bilateral meetings with Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations and Ms. Ilene Cohn, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director of UNMAS highly appreciated Vietnam's achievements, efforts and determination in overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines, with the result that the area of land surveyed and cleared was nearly 2.5 million hectares, and a large number of bombs and mines were found and destroyed. In 2023, VNMAC, in coordination with CRS Vietnam, with funding from the US Department of State, is building and preparing to announce the launch of the National Electronic Library on Overcoming the Consequences of Post-War Bombs and Mines in the near future. The National Electronic Library on Post-War Mine Action will be integrated into the VNMAC website at http://thuviendientu.vnmac.gov.vn/. Once launched, the electronic library will be a repository of documents, introducing and storing all information and documents on post-war mine action in Vietnam up to now.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of October, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, had a working meeting with Mr. Li Thuc, Senior Minister, Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Agency, Chairman of the Fifth Review Conference of the International Convention on the Banning of Anti-Personnel Mines (Ottawa Convention), along with representatives of the Unit supporting the implementation of the Convention and a number of related partners.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang and Mr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister, Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, Chairman of the Fifth Review Conference of the International Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines. Photo: Internet.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that Vietnam always stands side by side with the international community in mine clearance and supporting victims, and has supported many important contents and humanitarian aspects in relevant conventions, including the Ottawa Convention; at the same time, actively promoting cooperation and support between countries, especially in terms of technology and finance in mine clearance and supporting victims of anti-personnel mines. Vietnam pays great attention and makes great efforts to implement mine clearance, develop policies and implement many specific measures to care for and support victims. Vietnam acknowledges and appreciates the valuable assistance of many international partners to Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of mines in recent times.

For his part, Mr. Li Thuc highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in handling and overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines and its achievements in cooperation with countries and international organizations in this field. He said that Cambodia will host the Fifth Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention from November 25-29, 2024 in Siem Reap, and suggested that Vietnam consider sending a delegation to attend the upcoming conference and share Vietnam's experience in overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines with the countries attending the conference./.

Yanjiang