Vietnam Prioritizes Protecting Rights of Bomb, Mine Victims: Official

Ensuring the rights of people with disabilities, particularly victims of wartime bombs and chemical toxics, is among top priorities of Vietnam, stated Deputy Minister of Labours, Invalids, and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan. Making the statement at the ministry’s recent workshop regarding international experience sharing on supporting bomb and mine victims, Hoan informed that the number of bombs and mines left over from the war in Vietnam is about 800,000 tonnes, scattered over about 6.1 million hectares or nearly 19% of the total area of the country. From 1975 to date, more than 40,000 people have died and 60,000 people have been injured due to the detonation of these explosive devices. According to the deputy minister, in 2020, the State budget spent VND374 billion ($16.46 million) on implementing a policy on education for disabled people, including the bomb and mine victims. The deputy minister said in the 2021 – 2025 period, his department is set to focus on assisting people with disabilities in doing business, and seeking vocational training and employment. In hotspots of bomb and mine pollution, the group will be supported via livelihoods models. In 2019, the government promulgated Decree 18/2019/ND-CP on the management and implementation of post-war remedial activities regarding mines and explosives. Per the document, victims of unexploded ordnance are provided with the State support concerning initial medical treatment, health insurance purchase, health care, rehabilitation, cultural education, vocational training, employment and social protection. The decree also encourages and creates favourable conditions for domestic and foreign agencies, organisations, enterprises and individuals to participate in assisting the victims. At the event, foreign representatives shared a series of effective measures in aid of the victims, which included building data collecting software; establishing a medical support fund, and providing allowances for the victims, among others. (VietnamPlus)