NORWEGIAN PEOPLE’S AID (NPA) PROVIDED CLUSTER MUNITIONS AFFECTED LANDOWNER IN QUANG BINH PROVINCE WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONTAMINATION FROM EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE REMAINING ON HIS LAND

On 23 February, NPA Operations Officer in Quang Binh province Mr. Truong Cong Vu, had a coordination meeting with Mr. Le Cong Chien, a 58-year-old farmer who owns over 70,000 square meters of land that has been confirmed to be contaminated with cluster munitions (CM). The land is located in Chien Thang quarter, Nong Truong Viet Trung townlet, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province.

(NPA Operations Officer Truong Cong Vu was showing farmer Le Cong Chien the extent of cluster munition contamination on his land)

During the meeting, Mr. Chien was informed about the remaining contamination on his land and that the area has been mapped as a confirmed hazardous area for future clearance. He was also provided with safety instructions and urged to report any explosive ordnance findings to the authority using the hotline number provided by QB DBCU. This way of information sharing with the local people, can be the head of the village or land owner is often practiced whenever NPA teams completed technical survey in the respective village.
"I and other local residents are all aware of the danger. My mother and many other villagers are victims of CM-related accidents. However, we have to use the land for our livelihood. Now, some 27 years ago, when reclaiming land for making a rubber plantation, I collected and burned an uncountable number of explosive ordnances. I have been so lucky to not cause or be involved in an accident. We now look forward to the final clearance of the land, so that our neighborhood can be free from fear and improve our livelihood," said Mr. Chien, appreciating NPA's survey work in his land and support to the commune in general.

(BLU 61, one of the most commonly found explosive ordnances on Mr. Chien's land, appears to be in pristine condition despite the fact that the war ended 40 years ago)

Mr. Chien land is located within the confirmed hazardous area CHA-407-0035 with a total of 1,966,812 square meters identified by NPA CMRS in Chien Thang, Xung Kich and Thang Loi of Nong Truong Viet Trung townlet, Bo Trach district. When this confirmed hazardous area is cleared, it is anticipated to directly benefit 1,835 people, including 560 women, 542 men, 376 girls, and 357 boys, whose major income depend on agriculture, plantation, and livestock farming.

From: NPA Viet Nam