Program Background Most ERW casualties in Vietnam are caused by cluster munitions or “bombies” (the common Vietnamese term) rather than landmines or other weapons. Quang Tri Province is no exception. A 2006 Project RENEW survey found that cluster munitions and 40mm grenades have accounted for 65% of all injuries in the province since 1975.
Because of the urgent need for removal of ERW from inhabited residential areas, Project RENEW and Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) have cooperated to establish and operate two EOD “Quick Response Teams” (QRT) to deal with UXO findings as they are reported by local people.
This joint effort is also aimed at enhancing EOD capacity for Project RENEW staff, meeting the requirements of IMAS (International Mine Action Standards). The EOD QRT officially started operations with the first team in June 2008.
Initial Results In the first six months of operation, the QRT responded to 258 EOD tasks and destroyed a total of 899 items of ERW. One third of the destroyed items were cluster munitions.
UXO collected in one week’s operation
Most of the ERW found and destroyed by the teams were on the surface of the ground, near populated areas or around small agricultural tracts farmed by local people. All of these items were destroyed in place.
In addition, through Project RENEW’s 24-hour toll free hotline, the QRT receives about 15 calls every month reporting sightings of ordnance. This information is passed on to RENEW teams or, if outside our operational area, to other mine action projects for immediate action.
Officer in charge:
Mr. Dinh Ngoc Vu
Mobile: (+84) 912 123 535
E-mail: vurenew@gmail.com
