Foyles war

“The scientific workshop on DNA identification of human remains from war” is organised on the basis of the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) reached by the two sides last year. Hanoi (VNA) – US experts introduced the latest DNA analysis methods to serve the search of people missing during the war, at a workshop jointly held by the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on March 25. “The scientific workshop on DNA identification of human remains from war” was organised on the basis of the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) reached by the two sides last year. In her remarks, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock thanked Vietnam for its close coordination in the search for US personnel missing during the war. The US is committed to supporting Vietnam with the most cutting-edge technologies to identify human remains, thus helping Vietnam identify remains of fallen soldiers, she affirmed. Vietnamese experts shared their difficulties in DNA analysis and sought advice from the US side to tackle them. The biggest obstacles lie with technology and material facilities, VNOSMP Director Le Chi Dung said. Under the above-said MOI , USAID will provide Vietnam with the best, cutting edge technology for DNA extraction and analysis, work with Vietnam to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their laboratories, and ultimately increase the number of identified fallen soldiers./. VNA …

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Vietnam is one of the countries suffering from heavy consequences of post-war bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO). The country has implemented measures to clear bombs, mines and explosives. International donors and non-governmental organisations have supported Vietnam in UXO clearance and assisted bomb and mine victims. The Prime Minister approved a national action programme to tackle the impact of post-war bombs and mines during the 2010 to 2025 period on April 21, 2010. In the photo: The Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) organises a conference reviewing the results of a technical survey project to identify areas contaminated with bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances in Thua Thien-Hue province, November 17, 2020. (Photo: VNA) Since 1975, bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances have killed more than 40,000 people and left 60,000 others injured, most of whom are sole breadwinners and children. (Photo: VNA) Founded in August 2018, MAT 19, the only all-female one in the 40 landmines clearance teams operated by the British-based NGO Mines Advisory Group in Quang Tri province, has the task of clearing unexploded ordnances with specialized equipment. (Photo: VNA) The bomb and mine clearance working team under the Engineering Brigade 414 of Military Region 4 clears bombs and mines in Thuong Thanh area, Hue city to implement a project on population relocation and site clearance in area I of Hue Imperial Citadel relic site, April 2020. (Photo: VNA) The People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province and the Danish Demining Group sign an MOU on a project to minimize risks of ordnance left by the war in the province, June 1, 2017. (Photo: VNA) With domestic resources and international supports, Vietnam clears 40,000 - 50,000 ha of bomb and mine contaminated areas every year. (Photo: VNA) Lieutenant Colonel Shahab Udin, member of the United Nations Quality Assessment and …

[Read more...] about Vietnam addresses post-war UXO consequences

A 227kg bomb was found and safely handled by a mobile bomb and mine clearance team from PeaceTree in Hướng Hóa District, Quảng Trị Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồ Cầu QUẢNG TRỊ — After finding unexploded bombs when he was digging the foundations of his new house last month, Tạ Thành Đạt knew what he had to do. The man in Đông Hà City, the central province of Quảng Trị, called the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team and asked for help. The team comes from RENEW – a co-operative programme between Quảng Trị and foreign NGOs to restore the environment and address the consequences of war, especially unexploded ordnance (UXO). The main foreign partner in the programme is Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA). As soon as they received the call, EOD arrived at Đạt’s house, searched and finally found 22 unexploded bombs and more than 350 small bullets. The unexploded ordnance and bullets were moved away from the construction site and deactivated safely. Đạt said the team’s professional and quick response helped him feel safe and confident that his new house would be built on schedule. Earlier, in January this year, teams from the NPA/RENEW project searched for UXO across 865,000 sq.m in Hoàng Hà Hamlet, Gio Việt Commune, Gio Linh District of the same province. The teams found and deactivated 111 cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance. Lê Viết Mậu, a resident, said almost all of the more than 100 households' land and almost all their farmland was contaminated with UXO, which put people in danger. “We are so happy to see unexploded ordnance removed,” he said. The central province of Quảng Trị was most heavily contaminated by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Việt Nam following the three decades of bombardment in the resistance war against the US. Eighty-two per cent of Quảng Trị’s total area is contaminated by UXO from the war with the US. Wartime bombs and landmines have killed more than 3,430 local people and injured 5,100 others. In the last 26 years, the …

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