The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on September 15 launched a project to help Vietnam deal with post-war bombs and mines in the central provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh, state media reported. The $20-million project will receive support from the United Nations Development Program in Vietnam as well as relevant agencies of both sides. It will examine 16,632 hectares in the two provinces to define polluted areas for clearance. The cleared areas will be given to locals for production or to build public works. Vietnam has more than 6.1 million hectares of land or 18.71% of its total area contaminated with about 800,000 tons of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) left by wars, which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces, with the central region being the hardest hit. Since 1975, the end of Vietnam War, bombs and mines have killed more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others in the country. (VTV, Dan Tri Sep 15)
