Vietnam still has 800,000 tons of bombs and mines left over from the war.

Since 1975, unexploded bombs and mines in Vietnam have killed more than 40,000 people and injured more than 60,000.

At a press conference on March 31 on the occasion of World Mine Awareness Day (April 4), Mr. Nghiem Dinh Thien, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Post-War Bomb and Mine Action Center (VBMAC), said: According to estimates, the number of bombs and mines left over from the war is about 800,000 tons, contaminating over 20% of the country's land area.

Mr. Nghiem Dinh Thien informed at the press conference

All 63/63 provinces and cities in Vietnam are contaminated with post-war bombs and mines. The total contaminated and suspected contaminated area is about 6.8 million hectares, accounting for 20.7% of the total area of ​​the country.

Since 1975, unexploded bombs and mines in Vietnam have killed more than 40,000 people and injured more than 60,000, most of whom are breadwinners and children.

In some central provinces alone, including Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue and Quang Ngai, there were over 22,800 victims of bombs and mines, of which 10,540 died and 12,260 were injured.

Bomb disposal team demarcates the area for clearance along the rivers. Photo: Archive

According to the assessment, the main cause of accidents is due to people and children not having knowledge about handling weapons, mines and explosives. In particular, the clandestine search for scrap from mines is also a major cause of the increase in the number of deaths and injuries.

Statistics show that accidents caused by collecting scrap metal account for 34%; by farming and grazing account for 27%; by playing with materials account for 21%...

Recently, the Standing Office of the State Steering Committee on the National Action Program to Overcome the Consequences of Post-War Bombs and Mines in Vietnam and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union signed a program to coordinate activities to help bomb and mine victims integrate into the community in the period 2016 - 2020 and pilot a campaign to educate and prevent bomb and mine accidents in Binh Dinh.

The program aims to raise awareness among union members, youth and people about preventing post-war mine accidents and how to handle them when encountered.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also said that the 2016-2020 period of supporting bomb and mine victims to integrate into the community will focus on supporting victims to improve their lives, stabilize and improve their lives; develop rehabilitation services and social assistance for bomb and mine victims./.

According to VOV