The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) has pledged to maintain coordination with relevant agencies of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to speed up the implementation of the "Explosive Remnant of War Risk Reduction" project in 2018-2020 period.

At the working session between representatives from Thua Thien - Hue
province and Jan Erik Stoa, Country Director of NPA (fourth from left)
(Photo: thuathienhue.gov.vn)

This information has announced by Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dung, after his recent working session with Jan Erik Stoa, NPA Country Director in Vietnam.

Since 2010, NPA has actively taken action to sponsor Thua Thien-Hue over 64 billion VND (2.7 million USD) for humanitarian projects and those on post-war bomb and mine clearance, especially the "Explosive Remnant of War Risk Reduction" project. The organisation committed to continuing to grant 14 billion VND to projects in 2018-2020 period, Dung stated.

He shared that Thua Thien - Hue is one of the provinces that have the highest level of pollution by mines and bombs in Vietnam, with more than 170,400ha or 35 percent of the province's total area, mainly in A Luoi district. Since the war’s end, 147 people in A Luoi district were killed by bombs and mines.

To date, the province has completed 13 projects on bomb and mine clearance, collected nearly 10,000 bombs, mines and explosive objects, thus helping restore the environment for more than 14,917ha of land, and eliminate the risks of death and injury for local residents.

The NPA, founded in 1939, is one of Norway’s largest non-governmental organisations and has been involved in mine clearance activities in Vietnam since 2008.