Photo for illustration. Source: Tien Phong

PeaceTrees Vietnam, a non-governmental organisation of the US, has provided nearly 249,000 USD to the central province of Quang Tri to continue the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the province from now to April 2010.

According to Hoang Dang Mai, Director of the provincial People’s Committee’s Department for External Affairs, PeaceTrees Vietnam Director Quang Le and the province’s leaders have paid a visit to some social and welfare establishments located in areas, which were cleared from UXO under PeaceTrees Vietnam projects.

During the visit, Quang Le said that when the project is completed in April 2010, his organisation and Quang Tri will consider extending the project till September 2010.

PeaceTrees Vietnam was founded in 1995 to renew relationships with the people of Vietnam and promote a safe, healthy future for its children. Its work focuses on Quang Tri Province , an area heavily impacted by the legacy of war. Over the last thirty years, nearly 10,800 people in the province have been killed or maimed by landmines and unexploded ordnance. In one out of every five cases, the victim is a child.

PeaceTrees Vietnam sponsors UXO in Quang Tri Province as a means of realising the mission to reverse the legacy of war. Its accomplishments to date have been over 422 acres of land cleared and over 45,557 ordnance items removed.

During 14 years of work, PeaceTrees Vietnam has provided survivor assistance to more than 640 UXO victims and their families with emergency medical treatment, long-term medical or health care, nutritional support, household economic support and educational scholarships.

Source: VNA