With the motto "Promoting synergy, joining hands to overcome the consequences of post-war bombs and mines for a peaceful life," over the past ten years, the Vietnam Bombs and Mines Action Support Association (VBMASA) has joined hands to contribute to stabilizing and improving the quality of life for bomb and mine victims across the country.
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Former President Truong Tan Sang, Lt. Gen. Nguyen Duc Soat and President of Peace Foundation Truong Ngoc Thuy during a ceremony to present cows to UXO victims in Ha Giang province |
Sowing joy, creating fulcrum for UXO victims
Up to now, nearly 63 provinces and cities nationwide are still heavily polluted by hundreds of thousands of tons of UXO left over from the wars which threaten people’s lives and hinder the socio-economic development in polluted areas as well as the country’s prosperity.
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The happiness of UXO victims after receiving breeding cows from the VBMASA |
Against such a backdrop, the Prime Minister approved to establish the VBMASA on November 11, 2014. Over the past ten years, under the direction of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, with the joint efforts of the Commands of Air Defense and Air Force, Signal Corps and Engineering Corps Command, as well as enterprises and companies both inside and outside the military, the VBMASA has made contributions to stabilizing and improving the quality of life for UXO victims throughout the country.
Together with disseminating information to raise public awareness of mine accident prevention via many forms, the VBMASA has conducted livelihood support programs in 27 key provinces and cities, benefiting nearly 6,000 people. Hundreds of UXO victims' families have been supported with breeding cows, while more than 5,500 other people have received gratitude houses, business capital support, production tools, audiovisual equipment, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and rehabilitation equipment, to name but a few.
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Lt. Gen. Nguyen Duc Soat handing over livelihood support to UXO victims in September 2023 |
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Lt. Gen. Pham Ngoc Khoa, Vice Chairman of the VBMASA, giving livelihood support to UXO victims in Cao Loc district, Lang Son province in 2023 |
The association has also presented money and gifts during holidays and festivals; donated thousands of warm clothes and blankets and 1,330 bicycles to disadvantaged students with excellent academic results in localities; provided free health check-ups and medicines for nearly 3,000 victims of landmines, policy beneficiaries, Agent Orange victims and needy people; supported the "Paving ways for children to go to school" Fund; given books, school supplies and comic books to students at ethnic minority boarding schools, among others.
Retired generals work restlessly
After 10 years of building and growth, the VBMASA has expanded from 102 members in five initial local chapters under the central association to more than 1,500 members, with three provincial and city-level associations and 17 local chapters. Notably, the association has a large number of members who are retired generals. They have engaged in charity activities to support UXO victims over the past 10 years.
VBMASA Chairman Lieutenant General Nguyen Duc Soat shared that the more associations and local chapters at the provincial and city levels are established, the more UXO victims receive support. The association's goal is to ensure that no victim is left behind. Therefore, his concern is always about ways to call for funding resources and support the livelihood for UXO victims.
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Lt. Gen. Pham Ngoc Khoa and Truong Ngoc Thuy presenting gifts to disadvantaged students in Gia Lai province (September 2023) |
In the time to come, apart from supporting the livelihood for UXO victims, the association will focus on dissemination of information about bomb and mine prevention among a wider range of the public.
Over the past 10 years, with the journey to heal the wounds caused by bombs and mines, the VBMASA has brought happiness and love to families of UXO victims. The journey remains long; however, retired generals and officers will be given more strength if they continue to receive the support from organizations and individuals on the journey to help UXO victims, towards the goal "For a peaceful life."
Translated by Quynh Oanh