SURVEYS DOCUMENT FOR FIRST TIME LEGACY OF LANDMINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (UXO)

HANOI, VIETNAM, November 26, 2003 — Landmark surveys launched in Hanoi today document for the first time the number of deaths and injuries due to landmines and UXOs since the end of the American war, and include map coordinates which indicate the geographic locations and levels of contamination in one selected pilot area  Conducted in Quang Tri Province along the former DMZ, the region most heavily bombed during the war between Viet Nam and the United States, the results show that 2,540 people have died and another 4,243 people have been injured from 1975 to 2002.

The vast majority of these UXO/landmine accidents have occurred among children, youth and young adults with over half (53%) of all injuries and fatalities occurring among those 21 years of age or younger and nearly three quarters (73%) occurring among those 30 years of age and younger. Males, members of ethnic minority groups (Pa Co and Van Kieu), the poor and those living in remote areas have suffered a disproportionately high number of casualties.

The surveys were conducted by Project RENEWTM, a comprehensive and integrated mine action program launched as a pilot project in partnership with the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province.  Funding support was provided by UNICEF and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF).  The survey reports also document the importance of mine risk education (MRE) in reducing UXO/mine casualties. In the past five years, there has been a 50% reduction in casualty rates in every one of Quang Tri’s seven districts. Survey data strongly indicates that people who do not receive any information about the dangers of UXO/ mines are at a much greater risk of being involved in an accident. (Quang Tri Survey; Trieu Phong Survey)

“While there has been a significant drop in casualties, largely due to the introduction of UXO/mine risk education activities, there is still an overwhelming need for continued action,” Mr Tony Bloomberg, UNICEF representative, noted. “Mine risk education activities need to be supported not only in Quang Tri province but elsewhere in Viet Nam and victims and their families, in particular, require special assistance, such as educational scholarships and vocational training.”

The survey clearly documents the far-reaching impact of landmine/UXO. Not only is there the grief and trauma of deaths and injuries, but the presence of landmine/UXO contamination creates a climate of fear and inhibits access to farming land and free travel. Accidents overwhelmingly occur while farming (27%), collecting scrap metal (20%) and tampering/playing with ordnance (13%).

The survey data also offers the first comprehensive picture of the widespread socio-economic impact on the lives and well-being of local residents.  The likelihood of accidents is greater among less educated and impoverished children and adults, most of whom live in rural areas.  Deaths and injuries result in a much heavier burden on poor families, whose opportunities for sustainable income generation are already limited.  And the family responsibilities of caring for severely disabled landmine/UXO accident victims impose significant sacrifices which limit socio-economic options available to non-victims and their families.  When asked to state their most pressing needs, victims and their families cited income generation and educational assistance for their children as their top priorities.

Vice-Chairman Nguyen Manh Chinh of the Province People’s Committee said the data gathered in the surveys would be a valuable tool for the provincial and local governments in determining future strategies for mine action.  “Now we know the extent and the exact nature of the ladmine/UXO problem, so in accordance with provincial socio-economic development priorities, we can implement plans to make better use of government and donor funding and other resources.  This will allow more benefits to reach more people at lower cost, and with better results.”

According to the United States military more than 15 million tons of bombs, mines, artillery shells and other kinds of munitions were used during the war in Viet Nam. It is estimated that as much as 10% of this ordnance failed to explode on impact. Quang Tri, located  in central Viet Nam along the 17th parallel – the former dividing line between North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975 – bore the brunt of much of this. The surveys suggests that comparable problems are likely to exist elsewhere in the country.

Jan Scruggs, Founder and President of VVMF, suggested that the Project RENEWTM model could easily be expanded to other provinces contaminated by landmine/UXO.  “These were the first such surveys ever conducted in Vietnam, with approval from the Prime Minister’s office, and they were carried out in full partnership between VVMF and the Province People’s Committee, as well as the local military, the Youth Union, province health authorities, and commune and village leaders.  The data collected is a huge resource for future activities that will truly bring about the results we all wish to achieve:  reducing the threat of death and injury from landmine/UXO, and thereby allowing children and adults to live safely and securely without fear, and with confidence of a better future.”

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