Vietnam: 800 thousand tons of bombs and ammunition left over from the war

(Baonghean.vn) - In areas where conflicts have occurred or where wars have long since ended, many remnants remain, including bombs, mines, and explosives that remain and continue to cause tragic consequences.

On 8 December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly declared 4 April each year to be the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is an opportunity to draw the attention of the entire community to the need to support victims of mines and explosive remnants of war.

Defusing bombs alone helps save lives.

Mine risk prevention is a series of activities such as clearing mines and explosive remnants of war; marking, zoning, and fencing off dangerous areas. In addition, mine risk prevention activities also include activities to assist victims, instruct people on how to ensure safety in environments with mines and explosive remnants, and promote widespread participation in international conventions and treaties on mine victims and on the handling of mines and explosive remnants of war.

The US Diplomatic Mission visited the field, met with bomb disposal teams and personally detonated bombs, mines and explosives left over from the war in Trang Soi village, Trieu Ai commune, Trieu Phong, Quang Tri province in 2015.

The fight against mines is not only aimed at removing mines from the ground but also includes a wide range of measures, from preventing hazards in a mined environment to promoting a world completely free of mines.

The Museum of Bomb and Mine Disposal Technology Center (Hanoi) attracts many visitors.

The UN's mine action is built on five main "pillars": land clearance; education about mine-related risks; victim assistance; destruction of unexploded ordnance; and promotion of international legal instruments.

Vietnam currently has about 800,000 tons of bombs and mines left over from the war and about 6.13 million hectares of land contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with bombs and mines.

Vietnam is one of the countries most heavily contaminated with mines and bombs in the world. It is estimated that the number of bombs and ammunition left over from the war is about 800 thousand tons, the total area contaminated and suspected of being contaminated is about 6.13 million hectares, accounting for 18.82% of the total area of ​​the country.

Since 1975, unexploded ordnance in Vietnam has killed more than 40,000 people and injured more than 60,000, most of whom are the main breadwinners in their families and children. All types of unexploded ordnance and explosives are very dangerous and can explode when exposed to them during work, production, and daily activities, or can explode spontaneously due to mechanical, physical, or chemical causes.

Instruct students on how to recognize and avoid bombs, mines, and explosives left over from the war.

Immediately after the end of the war, the Party and the State identified overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs, mines and explosives as an urgent task and also a regular, long-term task. In particular, the work of supporting bomb and mine victims in recent years has achieved many important results, partly meeting the needs of the target group, creating conditions for bomb and mine victims to integrate into the community.

The annual World Mine Awareness Day (April 4) is an occasion to remind people of the dangers of mines, a type of weapon created by humans and used by humans in wars. Raising awareness of mine prevention for people as well as increasing efforts to clear mines are meaningful and practical actions to ensure a safe life for people and save many lives on earth./.

Peace

(Synthetic)