A Vietnamese delegation led by Defense Deputy Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh left Hanoi July 14 for a working visit to the U.S. to seek further support in surmounting the consequences of war-time landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). During the ten-day visit, Vinh, head of the State Steering Committee on National Action Program on settling consequences caused by UXO (or Steering Board 504), will hold talks with representatives from the U.S. Departments of Defense, of State and of Labor and a number of U.S. Congressmen. Vinh and his entourage will also hold working sessions with the United Nations Development Program, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). They will also visit several units of mine clearance research and technology development of the U.S. Department of Defense. Vietnam is facing difficulties in detecting and disposing post-war bombs, mines and explosives which remain an annual peril to many local residents, experts said, adding that most of the areas polluted by bombs and mines have complex terrain and geology, hydrology; explosives lie in various depths with many magnetized objects. In fact, thousands of unexploded bombs and grenades are still buried in the ground cross Vietnam. Since the Vietnam War ended in 1975, more than 40,000 people have died of the leftover explosives. Vietnam is in dire need of more support from the international community to cope with the consequences of post-war bombs and mines, experts said, adding that it needs over $10 billion and 300 years to clear up war-time bombs and mines. The U.S. government has pledged to fund $3.5 million for defusing bombs, and landmines left from the war in Vietnam this year. (An Ninh Thu Do - Capital’s Security July 16 p17, Vietnamplus.vn July 14)
