800,000 tonnes of unexploded ordnance remains in Vietnam
There are still some 800,000 tonnes of bombs and explosives left in 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam.
According to the ministry, Vietnam is one of the most UXO contaminated countries in the world. It is estimated that some 800,000 tonnes of live bombs and other ordnance remain across 6.13 million hectares or 18.82% of the country's land. Most of them are in the central region.
The representative from the High Command of Engineers said that all of the remaining ordnance was very dangerous and could explode anytime on their own or by other factors.
Since 1975 until now, unexploded ordnance has killed 40,000 and injured 60,000 people, the majority of them are main supporters of their families or children. There are 10,540 deaths and 12,260 injured people in the central provinces including Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
Tran Canh Tung, head of the Social Work Office under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said they had worked with the departments of labour, invalids and social affairs in Binh Dinh and Quang Binh provinces to gather information of the victims. The results show that there are nearly 75,000 disabled people, 94% of them completely lost their ability to work. Those who can find jobs have an average monthly salary of under VND3m.
Trung said it would take a long time for the authorities to gather and classify the database. Moreover, the employees still lack skills and experience so there will be many challenges.
He went on to say that they still need more research and legal framework about supporting the victims such as providing support in medical service and job hunting to elevate the disabled people's lives. Locality authorities should improve staff quality at social work offices and social protection centres, open more hotlines and upgrade the equipment there.
The conference on the publication of data about disabled people and unexploded ordnance in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces
The problem was discussed at the conference on the publication of data about disabled people and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on January 7.According to the ministry, Vietnam is one of the most UXO contaminated countries in the world. It is estimated that some 800,000 tonnes of live bombs and other ordnance remain across 6.13 million hectares or 18.82% of the country's land. Most of them are in the central region.
The representative from the High Command of Engineers said that all of the remaining ordnance was very dangerous and could explode anytime on their own or by other factors.
Since 1975 until now, unexploded ordnance has killed 40,000 and injured 60,000 people, the majority of them are main supporters of their families or children. There are 10,540 deaths and 12,260 injured people in the central provinces including Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
Tran Canh Tung, head of the Social Work Office under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said they had worked with the departments of labour, invalids and social affairs in Binh Dinh and Quang Binh provinces to gather information of the victims. The results show that there are nearly 75,000 disabled people, 94% of them completely lost their ability to work. Those who can find jobs have an average monthly salary of under VND3m.
Trung said it would take a long time for the authorities to gather and classify the database. Moreover, the employees still lack skills and experience so there will be many challenges.
He went on to say that they still need more research and legal framework about supporting the victims such as providing support in medical service and job hunting to elevate the disabled people's lives. Locality authorities should improve staff quality at social work offices and social protection centres, open more hotlines and upgrade the equipment there.
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