It is estimated that a total of about 800,000 tonnes of bombs and mines are left over from the war in Vietnam, while the total contaminated area and suspected mine pollution covers about 6.1 million hectares, accounting for 18.31% of the total area of the country.
The number of mines and unexploded ordnances is still scattered in 63 provinces and cities, mainly in the central provinces as well as the Central Highlands and Southeast regions. According to statistics, the country has more than 7.06 million people with disabilities, tens of thousands of which are victims of landmines and explosives who have been exposed to Agent Orange/dioxine.
After the war, Vietnam paid great attention to overcoming the consequences of landmines and UXO, including clearing mines and UXO, providing social assistance for UXO victims to reintegrate into the community and raising awareness on prevention of bomb and mine accidents for people.
The Party, State and Prime Minister have promulgated many guidelines, policies, and laws to overcome the consequences of landmines and mines and assist people with disabilities, including landmine victims. These works have been actively implemented by ministries, branches, and localities.
In particular, the work of supporting landmine victims and community reintegration implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has achieved many important results, partly meeting the needs of the target group and creating conditions for mine victims to integrate into the community.
Mine victims who need rehabilitation and social assistance from the State and the community are now able to participate in academic, labour, economic, and social activities.
The MOLISA has advised and submitted to the Government for promulgation many documents, including the Government’s Decree No.20/2021/ND-CP, dated March 15, 2021, on the regulation of support policies for policy beneficiaries.
In addition, the Prime Minister’s Decision No.1190/QD-TTg, dated August 5, 2020, approved a programme to assist people with disabilities in the 2021-2030 period.
Decision 1942/QD-TTg, dated January 18, 2021, approved a programme to improve the quality of health care and protection for people with meritorious services to the revolution, the elderly, children, people with disabilities and other subjects need social assistance for the 2021-2025 period, among others.
In order to provide medical care and rehabilitation for people with disabilities, including landmine victims, the MOLISA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health has focused on researching, amending and supplementing the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, which prescribes Community-Based Rehabilitation and an amendment to the Law on Health Insurance with the aim of increasing the coverage of health insurance for people with disabilities.
The MOLISA shall submit the program to improve the quality of health care and protection for people with meritorious services to the revolution, the elderly, children, people with disabilities and other subjects in need of social assistance in the 2021-2030 period (Decision No. 1942/QD-TTg, dated November 18, 2021) to the Prime Minister for his approval. The program focuses on the development of orthopaedic and rehabilitation equipment manufacturing facilities. for people with disabilities.
At a press conference in response to the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Deputy Director of the Social Protection Department under the MOLISA Pham Thi Hai Ha said that in order to help improve living conditions for people with disabilities in 2022, with the implementation of the Government's Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP, dated March 15, 2021, on social assistance for policy beneficiaries, over 28.73 trillion VND was allocated from the State budget to provide monthly allowances and buy health insurance cards for social beneficiaries.
In addition, about 480 billion VND was also allocated to implement policies on educational support for people with disabilities. In 2022, more than 1.6 million people with disabilities were granted health insurance cards.
