RoK supports Vietnam in UXO consequence relief

UXO detection and clearance equipment handed over is all modern, capable of helping detection and clearance forces precisely discover positions of bombs and landmines left-over.

As part of the Vietnam – Republic of Korea (RoK) project on post-war UXO consequence settlement, the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) has received 200 UXO detection and clearance machines. RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-Hyon handed over the machines to Vietnam.

The Vietnam – RoK project on post-war UXO consequence settlement started in March 2018 aims at enhancing UXO management capacity at the national level and supporting development in post-war UXO-contaminated localities. Via the project, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the UNDP have supported the Government of Vietnam to implement its National Mine Action Program in the period of 2019-2025 (Program 504).

The project supports Vietnam in identifying UXO-contaminated areas and clear the UXO to help locals have access to basic social service establishments like medical clinics, schools and land for farming and production. One of the important aspects of the project is enhancing national capabilities in the management and implementation of mine action projects, ensuring timely and quality support for UXO victims via improving local people’s awareness of the danger of UXO accidents.

In 2018, VNMAC announced the study findings showing that up to 4,600 hectares of land in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh is contaminated with UXO. Over the past time, 230 military officers have been trained with new methods of UXO detectin and provided with technical knowledge and new technologies of UXO clearance. Moreover, 4,500 people in 14 communes of five districts of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces have been provided with knowledge concerning the prevention of UXO accidents so that locals can lead a more stable life with stable livelihoods.

According to Deputy Director of VNMAC Nguyen Hanh Phuc, 200 machines received from Japan this time are all those with modern technical features, helping clearance forces precisely detect UXO lying underground to retrieve and deal with in line with technical guidance. At the same time, the machines will help VNMAC establish a database on UXO-contaminated area and UXO clearance – an important database in land management for localities to boost socio-economic development.

According to RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-hyon, the settlement of post-war UXO consequences is a big challenge for Vietnam. The RoK has a lot of experience in dealing with safety issues. Therefore, together with UNDP, the RoK is willing to provide Vietnam with new and modern equipment to enhance the effectiveness and safety of UXO detection and clearance activities in Vietnam.