The first ever demolition of unexploded ordnance and landmines has taken place in Quang Nam province, the scene of heavy fighting during the Vietnam War.
More than 1,000 people have been injured or killed by remnants of conflict in Quang Nam since 2004, but there has never been any clearance by non-governmental organisations until now.
MAG became the first international organisation to conduct Humanitarian Mine Action activities in the province earlier in 2012, when work commenced to discover the location of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines.
The clearance of these deadly items began this month.
Though the war ended more than 35 years ago, its legacy continues to pose a huge threat, as MAG Vietnam's Country Director Portia Stratton explains:
“As the population of Vietnam grows and communities expand into new areas, more and more UXO is found, impeding development and presenting physical dangers to the people."
“One of the most dangerous and prevalent items of UXO we find is the 'BLU 26', or ‘bombies’ as they are referred to locally.
"These small, round submunitions were dropped in bundles of hundreds and thousands, littering the Vietnamese countryside. They are very dangerous to move or touch, but their shape and size – about the same as a baseball – makes them particularly appealing to children. MAG Vietnam wants to make sure that it can remove as many of these and other deadly items to help make this legacy of war a distant memory.”
At a special ceremony to mark the historic demolition on 12 October, the US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear said: "UXO poses a physical threat to the health of the local population, generates anxiety, and prevents otherwise productive land use, which hampers social and economic development."
"In the coming months, MAG staff will work closely with provincial authorities and local residents in Quang Nam province. MAG will work to visit every household to locate, mark and safely dispose of UXO."
Amongst those also in attendance at the event were Mr Dinh Van Thu, Vice Chair of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, and Mr Nguyen Hoang Minh, Director of Quang Nam Department of Foreign Affairs.
By working closely together, regional authorities, donors and MAG can ensure that clearance takes place first in areas where it will have the greatest humanitarian impact – where cleared land will be used for farming, schools and infrastructure, for example.
MAG has been in Quang Tri since 1999 and in Quang Binh since 2002, during which time 7,724,030m2 of land has been cleared, and 183,932 items of unexploded ordnance and 2,538 landmines removed. More than two million people have benefited from MAG's work in the country.
MAG’s work in Quang Nam is made possible by a grant from the US Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.