Representatives from regional countries have gathered at the Asian Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+) Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action (EWG on HMA) in Hanoi on June 18 to discuss ways for clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
The event which is co-chaired by Vietnam and India highlighted the measures to solve consequences of bombs and mines left over from wars.
Addressing the event which was established under Vietnam’s initiative at the second ADMM+ in Brunei in 2013, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh said that Vietnam is one of the UXO hardest-hit country and joint efforts will help ease the post-war pains. To sharing efforts in solving post-war issues, the countries announced a joint action plan for the 2014-2017 period. UXO has caused more than 40,000 deaths and 60,000 others injured in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War as the Southeast Asian country bore more than 800,000 tons of bombs and mines dropped in during wars. The country is forecast to need roughly $10 billion and 300 years to clear UXO. (Vietnamplus.vn June 19)
