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United Nations Praises Vietnam's Remarkable Landmine Clearing Endeavors and Outstanding Female Involvement in Peacekeeping Operations

Vietnam is devising a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce the timeframe for post-war mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) removal to approximately 35-40 years, aiming to achieve a bomb and mine-free depth of 0.5 meters by 2065.

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Vietnam is devising a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce the timeframe for...
Vietnam is devising a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce the timeframe for post-conflict mine and explosive device removal, aiming for roughly 35 to 40 years. By 2065, the objective is to eliminate bombs and mines to a shallow depth of half a meter.

United Nations Praises Vietnam's Remarkable Landmine Clearing Endeavors and Outstanding Female Involvement in Peacekeeping Operations

A SIEN SAO - Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the under-secretary-general for UN Peace Operations, heaped praise on Vietnam for its impressive endeavors to eradicate unexploded ordnance (UXO) from its soil, as well as its involvement in UN peacekeeping missions.

During his farewell press conference after wrapping up his visit to the country, Lacroix highlighted the remaining tasks in addressing the leftover bombs and mines from past wars in Vietnam, as more than 17 percent of the nation's territory still harbors over 800,000 explosive devices.

Nguyen Van Cuong, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC), shared that as Vietnam's present capacity only permits the clearance of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 hectares of land annually, it would take anywhere between 150 and 180 years to decontaminate the about 5.6 million hectares of contaminated land if no new strategies are implemented.

In an effort to condense the post-war UXO clearance period to approximately 35 to 40 years, Vietnam has been working on a master plan. The country aims to achieve this goal by finalizing an Ordinance on Post-War Mine Action and a National Strategy on Mine Risk Education, as per Cuong.

Lacroix expressed optimism over continued support to the Vietnamese authorities and applauded the ongoing assistance of UN Development Programme, alongside other international partners, in these efforts.

"It's crucial to continue advocating for these efforts as Vietnam's example showcases that even with a robust political will, solid institutional framework, and a high level of expertise, eradicating UXO from an entire country takes decades and requires persistent, unwavering efforts," Lacroix stated.

Addressing concerns over reduced foreign assistance, including the United States, Lacroix admitted that this would have an impact on some projects but emphasized the necessity of strengthened advocacy for additional resources for mine action.

Looking at lessons from Vietnam that can be applied to other post-conflict regions, Lacroix pointed out key factors such as:

  1. Political Will and National Ownership: Strong commitment at the government level is vital for mobilizing resources and efforts to expedite UXO clearance.
  2. Institutional Platforms: Establishing national policies or frameworks on mine action, with bodies like VNMAC serving as the focal point and operators of demining activities, help streamline operations.
  3. Integrated Approach: Connecting various aspects, such as development, agriculture, community needs, women, and climate change, enhances mine action initiatives' effectiveness.
  4. Partnership: International collaboration can provide access to expertise, advanced technologies, and streamlined processes to speed up UXO clearance.

Lacroix particularly emphasized the importance of an integrated approach between mine action and sustainable development, stating that mine action is not only an enabler but also a prerequisite for achieving progressive sustainable development objectives. This integration is essential for constructing infrastructure, returning land to agricultural use, and improving education.

Regarding the combination of peacekeeping endeavors with the enhancement of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, Lacroix emphasized the priority of the WPS agenda in peacekeeping operations. He lauded Vietnam's female participation rate in peacekeeping units, which surpassed the set targets, both in the military and police. Vietnam aims to boost the proportion of women in its peacekeeping forces to 20% during the 2026-2027 period.

"We anticipate that Vietnam will propose more female candidates for senior positions in peacekeeping, focusing on fostering environments that are welcoming to females, both physically and psychologically, in addition to enhancing the qualitative nature of peacekeeping efforts," Lacroix concluded.

"In spite of all obstacles, multilateralism is more essential than ever. Mine action is a transnational, cross-cutting issue that mandates international solidarity, and Vietnam continues requiring international support while the lessons gleaned from Vietnam's experience will prove beneficial to other affected nations," Lacroix told reporters.

"Moreover, peacekeeping and sustainable development are collective endeavors founded on partnership. In the face of today's global challenges, the response can only be multilateral," the UN official added.

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Overall:

To shorten the post-war mine and explosive ordnance clearance period in Vietnam, several strategies are being considered:

Strategies for Shortening Clearance Period

  1. Developing a Master Plan: Vietnam is working on a project focused on decreasing the UXO clearance timeline to 35–40 years through the drafting of a new ordinance on post-war UXO remediation and a national strategy on mine risk education.[1][2]
  2. Increased Political Determination: The government has consistently demonstrated strong political will and national ownership to tackle the UXO issue, which is crucial in mobilizing resources and accelerating clearance efforts.[2]
  3. Technological Advancements: Enhancing technologies used in UXO detection and clearance is vital for efficiency. Technologies like advanced sensors and robotic systems may help address UXO risks safely and effectively.[2]
  4. International Cooperation: Vietnam may stand to benefit from partnerships with countries offering advanced technologies and expertise in UXO clearance. These collaborations could lead to streamlined processes, thereby reducing the clearance period.[2]
  5. Community Engagement: Encouraging community participation in awareness and education programs can help prevent accidents and ensure that local residents report newly discovered UXO promptly.[3]
  6. Infrastructure and Logistics: Improving infrastructure and logistics can facilitate equipment and personnel transportation, which is critical for increasing the efficiency of clearance operations.

Current Challenges

  • Extensive Contamination: About 17.7% of Vietnam's land area remains affected by UXO, presenting numerous socio-economic challenges and risks to infrastructure development and agriculture.[2]
  • Current Pace: As it currently takes about 40,000 to 50,000 hectares to be cleared each year, if no new strategies are implemented, it could take between 150 and 180 years to decontaminate the estimated 5.6 million hectares of affected land.[2]

Future Plans

Vietnam aims to make contaminated land safe to a depth of 0.5 meters by 2065 through these strategic efforts, ensuring a safer environment for future development and reducing the risks associated with UXO.[2]

[1] https://www.eenews.net/stories/1066394448[2] https://unmineaction.org/impact/ oursites/country/vietnam[3] https://www.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/local-communities-key-in-uxo-clearance-760602.html

From left: General Nguyễn Văn Cường, Deputy Director General of the Việt Nam National Mine Action Centre; United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix; and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Việt Nam Patrick Haverman. VNS Photo Trọng Kiên

  1. The UN official, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed optimism about continued support for Vietnam's efforts to eradicate unexploded ordnance (UXO) from its soil, acknowledging the importance of such support in reducing the clearance period.
  2. In an effort to address the leftover bombs and mines from past wars in Vietnam, the country is working on a master plan to achieve the goal of decontaminating the about 5.6 million hectares of contaminated land in approximately 35 to 40 years, rather than the current estimated 150 to 180 years.
  3. Regarding peacekeeping endeavors, Lacroix emphasized the priority of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in these operations, commending Vietnam's female participation rate in peacekeeping units and its aim to boost the proportion of women in its forces to 20% during the 2026-2027 period.
  4. To expedite UXO clearance, Lacroix underlined the significance of establishing national policies or frameworks on mine action, with entities like the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) serving as the focal point and operators of demining activities.
  5. Looking at lessons from Vietnam that can be applied to other post-conflict regions, Lacroix highlighted the importance of an integrated approach between mine action and sustainable development, stating that mine action not only enables but is also a prerequisite for achieving progressive sustainable development objectives, such as constructing infrastructure, returning land to agricultural use, and improving education.

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