(VNF) – Land mines are explosive devices buried in the ground. They detonate when pressure is put on them, usually by people or vehicles. When conflicts are resolved, land mines might be forgotten or neglected. Most victims of land mines—more than 80%—are civilians, mostly farmers and children.

Parade responding to the International Day Against Landmines in Hanoi on March 31^st (source: Tuoi Tre)

On occasion of the International Day Against Landmines (April 4^th), let’s learn about some facts regarding the isssue in the world and Vietnam.

History of the International Day Against Landmines

On April 4^th, 2006 the United Nations observed the first International Day of Mine Awareness. The day raises awareness on the threat of land mines and other explosive remnants of war. More than 155 nations have agreed to ban the use of land mines,

On December 8^th 2005, the General Assembly declared that April 4^th of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

This year, the International Day Against Landmines's theme is Advancing Protection, Peace, and Development. It echoes the vision of the Secretary-General and his reforms of the peace and security architecture comprising the entire humanitarian, peace building and sustainable development continuum.

"An unprecedented volume of landmines and unexploded weapons contaminates rural and urban war zones, maiming and killing innocent civilians long after conflict has ended.

Mine action is vital. Roads cleared of explosive devices enable peacekeepers to patrol and protect civilians. And when fields are cleared and schools and hospitals are made safe, normal life can resume.

I urge all Governments to provide political and financial support to enable mine action work to continue, wherever it is needed. In our turbulent world, mine action is a concrete step towards peace." said UN General Secretary António Guterres.

Countries with most contaminated & impacts

More than 65 countries are contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of wars.

Remnants remain in about 78 countries, mostly scattered in conflict-ridden parts of Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The nations of Colombia, Russia, and Yemen also endure hundreds of land-mine casualties every year.

Prolonged wars in Viet Nam have resulted in significant amounts of landmines and persified unexploded ordnance (UXO) which threaten people’s lives. Survey shows that more than 40 percent of Binh Dinh province’s area is contaminated with landmines and UXO, with all 159 of the province’s communes impacted. Meanwhile in Quang Binh province, nearly 28 percent is similarly affected.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, there are still 800,000 tons of explosive material left to be cleared, which will take the country 300 years.

Since 1975, unexploded bombs, landmines, and other weapons have killed more than 40,000 people and maimed about 60,000 others in Vietnam.

What is the world doing?

One of the significant effort of the world in dealing with UXO is the Mine Ban Treaty (or the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction), adopted on September 18^th ,1997 and entered into force on March 1^st , 1999.

The Mine Ban Treaty prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of antipersonnel mines. It is the most comprehensive international instrument for eradicating landmines and deals with everything from mine use, production and trade, to victim assistance, mine clearance and stockpile destruction.

UXO removal work in Vietnam (source: vmms.vn)

As of March 1^st 2018, there were 164 States Parties to the treaty and the treaty is still open for ratification by signatories and for accession by those that did not sign before March 1999.

States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty are obligated to: destroy their stockpile of antipersonnel mines within four years of entry into force; make every effort to identify and clear mined areas under their jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 10 years after becoming a State Party;provide assistance to mine victims and support for mine risk education and submit annual reports on Mine Ban Treaty implementation activities.

Meanwhile, the UN has long been calling for continued efforts by States to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development at the national and local levels.

For over 20 years, the work of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has been driven by the needs of affected people and tailored to the threat of explosive hazards faced by civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarians.

What is Vietnam doing?

After the war, the Government of Viet Nam has paid special attention to overcoming the consequences of the war, and to mine action to ensure peaceful lives and create favorable conditions for socio-economic development and people’s improved living standards.

Since the war ended in 1975, the Vietnamese government has spent US$80-100 million resolving UXOs every year and has received support from both domestic and international organizations.

A national-level meeting on settling UXO consequences in Vietnam held on March 30^th (source: The World and VN)

The Goverment has established a National Steering Commitee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Toxic Chemical Consequences, and closely coordinate with international partners including the UN, and NGOs such as Project RENEW, Mine Action Group (MAG), among others, to launch activities in settling the consequences of war.

Recently, in March, Quang Tri province has signed an agreement with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) under which the latter will continue to assist the local government with clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) over the next three years.

The 2018-2020 project builds on the success of the previous five UXO clearance projects as part of the cooperation between MAG and the central Vietnamese province since 1999.

The project, directly undertaken by MAG with US$12 million funding from the US Department of State and other donors, aims to clear 50 million square metres of land, remove and destroy more than 42,000 items of UXO.

Over 350 training sessions will also be held as part of the project to educate local residents about the risks of unexploded mines and bombs.

It is estimated that there are more than 85,000 people who will benefit from this project.

In the time to come, Vietnam will also focus on amending related legal documents after the Decree on Managing the Settlement of UXO takes effect while continue to mobilize supports from international community and implement policies benefiting UXO victims comprehensively.

Parade responding to the International Day Against Landmines in Hanoi on March 31^st (source: Tuoi Tre)

In responding to the International Day Against Landmines, on today (March 31^st)'s morning, a meeting and parade were held in the walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and Ly Thai To Square, Hanoi.

An exhibition on the issue is also displayed in the area.

On April 3^rd, an aware-raising programme themed 'Join hands to settle the post-war consequences of UXO in Vietnam' will be held in the Hanoi Opera Theatre./.

( Phi Yen )