Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich at Bien Hoa airport (Source: VNA) Dong Nai (VNA) – Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo XuanLich inspected dioxin detoxification work at Bien Hoa airport in the southernprovince of Dong Nai on February 15.
The area surrounding the Bien Hoa airport contains high levels of thechemical and is considered one of the country’s dioxin hotspots. According toassessments from Vietnam and the US, around 515,000 cu.m of dioxin-contaminatedland around the airport still needs to be treated, with southwest of theairport as the most contaminated area at a contaminant level 92 times higherthan the standard level.
To reduce dioxin contamination at the airport, from 1995-2016, 160,000cu.m of contaminated land was dug up, shoveled, and buried to keep it isolated,thanks to efforts from the High Command of Chemistry and relevant units.
In 2012, with assistance from the UN Development Programme and theGlobal Environment Fund, another 70,000 cu.m was successfully isolated fromhuman contact.
In 2017, the Ministry of National Defence launched a project oninfrastructure construction at the airport with an investment of 270 billionVND (11.6 million USD). The move was a technical infrastructure preparation fora 10-year dioxin treatment project worth 390 million USD in non-refundable aid fromthe US and other partners. The first phase of the project will be carried outin April.
At the meeting with the dioxin contamination treatment project’smanagement board, Lich hailed efforts by relevant domestic units, and local andinternational organisations to deal with dioxin hotspots and provide supportfor dioxin victims.
He asked for thorough preparations to start construction on theproject’s first phase in April, and to step up dissemination to attract moredomestic and foreign assistance in both capital and technology.–VNA
The area surrounding the Bien Hoa airport contains high levels of thechemical and is considered one of the country’s dioxin hotspots. According toassessments from Vietnam and the US, around 515,000 cu.m of dioxin-contaminatedland around the airport still needs to be treated, with southwest of theairport as the most contaminated area at a contaminant level 92 times higherthan the standard level.
To reduce dioxin contamination at the airport, from 1995-2016, 160,000cu.m of contaminated land was dug up, shoveled, and buried to keep it isolated,thanks to efforts from the High Command of Chemistry and relevant units.
In 2012, with assistance from the UN Development Programme and theGlobal Environment Fund, another 70,000 cu.m was successfully isolated fromhuman contact.
In 2017, the Ministry of National Defence launched a project oninfrastructure construction at the airport with an investment of 270 billionVND (11.6 million USD). The move was a technical infrastructure preparation fora 10-year dioxin treatment project worth 390 million USD in non-refundable aid fromthe US and other partners. The first phase of the project will be carried outin April.
At the meeting with the dioxin contamination treatment project’smanagement board, Lich hailed efforts by relevant domestic units, and local andinternational organisations to deal with dioxin hotspots and provide supportfor dioxin victims.
He asked for thorough preparations to start construction on theproject’s first phase in April, and to step up dissemination to attract moredomestic and foreign assistance in both capital and technology.–VNA
VNA
