U.S. Foundation Helps Vietnam Address UXO

Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and U.S.-based Golden West Humanitarian Foundation on Nov 9 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in solving wartime landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO), the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s army) reported. Accordingly, Golden West foundation will assist VNMAC to increase the UXO clearance staff’s professional capacity while sharing information about UXO disposal techniques. The foundation will also design, produce, and transfer professional equipment to the Vietnamese side, the newspaper said. The newspaper also quoted Golden West CEO Allan Vosburgh as saying at the signing ceremony in Hanoi that his organization will continue supporting VNMAC in training personnel and equipping professional facilities. It will also help Vietnam’s navy promote underwater UXO clearance capacity. According to a preliminary survey in 2002, nearly 9,300 communes with 6.6 million hectares of land across Vietnam were contaminated with UXOs, accounting for 21.12% of the country’s land area; the central region is the most contaminated. UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000 in Vietnam. The Vietnamese government has spent tens of millions of U.S. dollars every year on UXO disposal and providing vocational training to and resettling UXO victims. (qdnd.vn Nov 9)