Sep
A Case Study UXO Clearance in Vietnam
Posted under Charities, |
The parents both 44, not only have the normal pressures of bringing up four children aged between 10- and 16-years-old, but they also have to live with the fear that one of their young children will accidently set off an item of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind from Vietnam's conflicts during the 20th century.
The couple, who live in Tu Loan, a small village of 650 households in Quang Hung Commune, Quang Binh Province, are well aware that remnants of the conflict more than 30 years ago, may still take the life or limbs of their loved ones. Cluster bombs are the most common and one of the most dangerous types of unexploded weapons (UXO) found in Vietnam as they take a long time to degrade and remain potentially lethal for many decades.
The villagers in Tu Loan live off of the the rice paddies, however, Mrs Huong says, "the soil around Tu Loan village is very poor and sandy, but the farmers fear digging deeper into the ground to improve the soil quality because the area is contaminated by all sorts of bombs".
"The fear of hitting unexploded bombs makes it even more difficult to grow rice crops and vegetables," she says. "I did not dare plant a garden in the area outside my house because I was afraid for myself and my children." In an economy that relies on home grown produce to supplement incomes, this puts severe restraints on the family's livelihood.
Despite these setbacks, her children have grown up happy and healthy. But Mrs Huong still fears for their safety. "We do not play in the garden," says her son, Vo Thi Trang, 13 years old. "Because my mother thinks there are many bombs and mines still out there."
MAG Vietnam's Mine Action Team No. 2, spent all of July in Quang Hung Commune. The 11 male and female technicians, conducted a house-to-house search of the villages of Hung Loc and Tu Loan for all known and reported UXO. By the end of the month the team had visited 625 houses, conducted 124 explosive ordnance disposal tasks and destroyed 318 items of UXO.
The team removed 3 cluster bombs from Mrs Huong's garden. Mrs Huong now plans to plant a vegetable garden outside her house for her family and perhaps even sell. "I am very happy that my family are no longer in danger and grateful to MAG for removing these bombs from my garden as well as our village. We are no longer afraid and now have a chance to build a new and safer life".
