Ha Giang’s UXO clearance, search and collection of martyrs’ remains checked

PANO - Steering Committee 515 held a conference on July 19 to check Ha Giang province’s implementation of the project on unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, search and collection of martyrs’ remains under the chair of Deputy Defense Minister and deputy head of the steering committee Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong.

Gratitude activities held to mark Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs’ Day

Defense delegation pays tribute to war martyrs

GS Deputy Chief attends memorial service for martyrs in Ha Giang

Sr. Lt. Gen. Vo Minh Luong chairs the conference.

Ha Giang is one of the localities severely affected by landmines and explosive remnants. To date, the entire province has over 90,000 hectares of land contaminated with UXO. The area in need of clearance for search and collection of fallen soldiers' remains is 9,060 hectares. The total area cleared from UXO until now is 12,233 hectares, leaving approximately 77,932 hectares of contaminated land that still requires UXO clearance.

Over the past time, the management, collection, classification, transportation, and disposal of UXO have been carried out by units and enterprises in accordance with procedures, regulations, and plans approved by the Ministry of National Defense, ensuring absolute safety. As of July 17, 2024, a total of 770 hectares of land have been cleared and handed over to relevant agencies for the search and collection of fallen soldiers' remains and local socio-economic development. The remaining within the project is expected to be completed by September, 2024.

Delegates at the event

Regarding the search and collection of martyrs’ remains, Military Region 2 has directed its units to foster coordination in carrying out the mission. As of June 2024, 3,140 sets of fallen soldiers' remains have been found and recovered.

Concluding the event, Gen. Luong lauded agencies and units for their efforts and responsibility in carrying out the project of UXO clearance and search and collection of fallen soldiers' remains. He requested construction units to accelerate the progress of the project to free land for the search and collection of martyrs’ remains.

In addition, agencies and units were urged to conduct surveys to soon build a map of possible burial places of martyrs; collaborate with local party committees, authorities, departments, sectors, war veterans’ associations, and people to collect more information about the fallen soldiers’ burial places and their information; well carry out policies for forces directly joining the work.

National contributors in Ha Giang receive gifts.

The same day, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, and Military Region 2 visited and presented gifts to national contributors and outstanding policy families in Vi Xuyen district and Ha Giang city.

Translated by Tran Hoai