Land contaminated by dioxin at Da Nang airport. Photo: anninhthudo.vn

PANO – The U.S Government and Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) today signed a memorandum of understanding that lays the framework for implementing environmental health and remediation programs, announced the US Embassy in Hanoi.

The overall objective of the program is to contribute to the enhanced quality of life of Vietnamese citizens by helping to improve environmental, health, and social conditions. Specifically, the memorandum of understanding outlines the coordination framework between the implementing agencies - MONRE’s Office of National Steering Committee 33 and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

According to the United States Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak, “this MoU marks an important milestone and a new level of commitment in working together to find new and innovative solutions to a complex problem.”

“The purpose of this MoU is to establish the framework for the cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the United States to implement health and environment remediation activities relating to Agent Orange/Dioxin,” said Dr. Lai Minh Hien, Director of Office 33.

The MoU covers activities funded by $6 million in U.S. Congressional appropriations in 2007 and 2009.  To date, the U.S. Government has financed projects with East Meets West Foundation, Save the Children, and Vietnam Assistance to the Handicapped to provide health, educational and socials services to people with disabilities in Danang.  This funding also supports work with other donors to help Danang Province gather more information about its disabled populations and develop programs to better meet their needs.

Also as part of the $6 million, CDM International in association with Hatfield Consultants, was recently awarded a contract to develop the engineering design and planning preparatory effort to develop the most environmentally sound engineering approach to dioxin containment at Danang Airport, to be based on international standards and engineering best practices.

Ngoc Hung