Hanoi (VNA) –The National Mine Action Programme for 2010-2025 has helped survivorsof war-time bombs and mines return to normal life and raised public awarenessof bomb and mine risks, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment NguyenThe Phuong.

Phuong madethe statement at the first meeting of the Mine Action Partnership Group (MAPG)in Hanoi on March 15.

The NationalMine Action Programme for 2010-2025 (also known as Programme 504) aims to minimizethe economic and health impacts of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)in Vietnam.

The programmehas helped Vietnam improve its institutional capacity and human resources,develop advanced technology for demining activities and expand internationalcooperation in healing the aftermaths of post-war bombs and mines, the deputyminister noted.

Speaking onbehalf of the MAPG, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said Vietnam has workedhard to clear contaminated areas and the US has been Vietnam’s partner in thiseffort since 1993.

The US iswilling to share experience with Vietnam in this field, and ready to learn fromVietnam’s experience and share it to the world, he added.

AmbassadorStefano Toscano, Director of the Geneva International Centre for HumanitarianDemining (GICHD) said the establishment of the MAPG marked a milestone in aneffort by Vietnam to coordinate with international communities to cope withpost-war bomb aftermaths.

The centre,which supports the Vietnamese Government and relevant agencies, hoped tocontinue receiving supports and donors from partners in the effort.                                                                                                 

According tothe Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, more than 800,000 tonnesof unexploded bombs and mines are buried across 21 percent of the country,mainly in the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri,Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Ngai.

Wartime bombsand mines have killed about 42,130 people and injured 62,160 others todate.-VNA