Portfolio Vietnam

Country in Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia,329,560sq km. Population 2007 ca. 85.2million. Population composition: Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

Cause and scope of the landmine problem
Quang Tri Province is located in Central Vietnam, and during the War it was divided by the temporary Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).  The province saw intense conflict during that period especially along National Route 9 from the Vietnam-Lao border to Dong Ha Town and onto the coastal areas. In 1972, Quang Tri was subjected to one of the war’s most intense bombing campaigns, after which, almost every village in the province had been destroyed. According to statistics at that time, 328,000 tons of bombs and other weapons of explosive ordnance were targeted in the DMZ and thousands of landmines were also laid. The United States combat records show that out of the ten most bombed provinces, Quang Tri was ranked as the most targeted and it is where the majority of BLU-26/36 cluster bombs and M79 4mm grenade are found, accounting for 65 percent of all injuries since 1975. According to Landmine Monitor up to 35 percent of land in the province can not be used for cultivation or resettlement. Intense clearance operations by the People’s Army of Vietnam have concentrated on the building of the highway running along the former Ho Chi Minh Trail where tens of thousands of items have been found.  

NPA history in the country
The project was requested by the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam as a result of findings from the Health Service and Mine Victim study conducted by project RENEW in June 2006. The results of the study clearly demonstrate the need to increase the removal of cluster munitions and other UXO from inhabited areas. The committee requested that NPA facilitate the development of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capacity with the capability to respond to requests that are reported to their provincial coordination office

Capacity
NPA provides technical and managerial support for the development of a roving EOD team under its partnership with Project RENEW. The team will be recruited and trained by NPA while laterally a RENEW Operations Manager (EOD) will be trained and supported by experienced NPA technical staff. Advice and support will then be given to RENEW assisting in further building its operational capacity.

Donors
Supported by Norwegian MFA 2007-2008 and also contribution from UNICEF.

Links

Landmine Monitor Report for Vietnam: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/vietnam

Project RENEW: http://www.landmines.org.vn/home/index.php