U.S., Norway Help UXO Victims in Central Vietnam

The U.S.’s Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) and Norway’s Renew Project in Vietnam have supported victims of wartime bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in the central province of Quang Tri. Through a program named “Mushrooms with a Mission,” HDI and Renew on June 4 handed over $23,000 worth of equipment for advanced mushroom production to the Mushroom Center of Cam Lo district to implement this program. The equipment is expected to raise monthly mushroom production capacity from 30,000 bags to more than 300,000 bags, helping fund bomb and mine clearance. Implemented since 2010, the program was designed to support UXO victims and disabled people in Quang Tri through providing them with necessary mushroom growing tools and knowledge with an aim to build a sustainable mushroom growing industry. Quang Tri remains one of the most mine-affected provinces in Vietnam. More than 100,000 local people are victims of UXOs and landmines. Thousands of unexploded bombs and grenades are still buried in the ground across Vietnam. More than 40,000 people have died of the leftover explosives since the war ended in 1975. Vietnam will release a map of bomb and mine pollution this year in a move to speed up the progress and raise efficiency of bomb and mine removal. (vov.vn June 6)