Quang Tri hopes the United States will continue to fund mine action programs.

On February 19, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province sent an official dispatch requesting the Ambassador and his colleagues from the US Embassy in Vietnam to report and propose that the US Department of State consider exempting or shortening the implementation period of the suspension of international aid policy or conducting a review and assessment while allowing programs and projects to overcome the consequences of bombs and mines to continue to be implemented.

Discovery and handling of ammunition bunker in Gio Linh district - Photo: NPA/RENEW

In a letter to Mr. Marc E. Knapper - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for overcoming the consequences of war in Quang Tri province, Hoang Nam stated: For many years, programs and projects on surveying and clearing mines and bombs implemented by foreign non-governmental organizations funded by the US Department of State have made an important contribution to reducing the risk of remaining mines and bombs, freeing up land for livelihood development and bringing safety to the community in Quang Tri.

There are currently 4 projects being implemented in Quang Tri province, including: Environmental Restoration and Overcoming the Consequences of War (RENEW); Community Liaison and Clearance of Bombs, Mines and Explosives in Quang Tri Province, Phase VII (2021 - 2025); Searching and Handling Bombs, Mines and Explosives to Minimize Hazards and Support the Socio-Economic Development Plan of Quang Tri Province for the 2021 - 2025 Period; Capacity Development for the Quang Tri Province Mine Action Center (QTMAC) for the 2022 - 2025 Period.

As of December 31, 2024, organizations have completed the clearance of 24,139 hectares, equivalent to 38.9% of the cluster bomb contaminated area in Quang Tri province. Currently, Quang Tri still has 37,808 hectares of cluster bomb contaminated land that need to be cleared and cleaned to serve people's lives and socio-economic development.

From February 4 to 14, 2025, through the hotline, Quang Tri province received 23 calls from people about the discovery of post-war bombs, mines and explosives. Currently, with the province's resources, only 3/23 calls have been handled, and explosives are still threatening the safety of people and hindering the livelihood activities of the community every day.

However, currently, in the context of the US Government adjusting and re-evaluating its foreign aid policy, Quang Tri province is facing many difficulties in maintaining and continuing to implement projects and programs for surveying and clearing mines.

The US Government's decision to temporarily suspend foreign aid programs, including the mine action program in Quang Tri, has caused the locality to face a major challenge in ensuring the safety of people from the risks of mine and explosive accidents, while also deeply affecting socio-economic activities in areas confirmed to be dangerous due to cluster bombs that have been surveyed.

Therefore, the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee requested Ambassador Marc E. Knapper and his colleagues from the US Embassy to report and propose that the US State Department consider exempting or shortening the implementation period of the suspension of international aid policy or conducting a review and assessment while allowing the programs and projects to continue. Maintaining funding for these projects not only helps Quang Tri province overcome the consequences of war, but also contributes to ensuring community safety and promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

On the same day, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam signed a document reporting on the suspension of projects funded by the US Government in Quang Tri to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report said that the above projects help free up land for livelihood development, ensure safety for the community and society; support more than 1,500 people with disabilities, including victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and bomb and mine victims, to integrate into the community, improve their livelihoods, training programs for medical staff and access to rehabilitation and care services; and create jobs for more than 1,000 local workers.

Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee requests the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider and have appropriate communication channels with the US Government, requesting the US Government, the US Department of State and US development cooperation partners to exempt or shorten the evaluation time of aid programs to overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam or to conduct both review and evaluation and allow programs and projects to continue to be implemented according to the approved decision of the Prime Minister.

Previously, the US Government requested foreign non-governmental organizations receiving funding from the US Government, including the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), to suspend operations for 90 days, starting from January 25, 2025, to conduct assessments and reviews. This decision applies globally, including Quang Tri province.

Quang Hai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quang-tri-mong-muon-hoa-ky-tiep-tuc-tai-tro-nbsp-cac-chuong-trinh-khac-phuc-hau-qua-bom-min-191831.htm