Vietnam needs up to $250 million to clean up dioxin at Bien Hoa military airport, a base of the U.S. army during the Vietnam War, a report showed at a conference supported by the UN Development Program (UNDP). The dioxin-contaminated soil may hit 250,000 cubic meters and it will take at least five years to clean up. Between December 1969 and March 1970, about 25,000 liters of the toxic spilt over the tanks, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s the National Steering Committee on overcoming consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam (Office 33). Average dioxin concentration at Bien Hoa airport is about 35,000 parts per trillion (ppt), said Le Ke Son, director of Office 33. UNDP Deputy Country Director Bakhodir Burkhanov said that the organization has supported Vietnam in dealing with consequences of high-contaminated areas but more investment and efforts should be made to solve the situation. Farmers who catch fish within the airport have the dioxin concentration of 2,000 ppt compared to 10 ppt limit warned by the World Health Organization (WHO). Bien Hoa airport is one of three places in Vietnam having the highest dioxin residue left during the Vietnam War. However, the Washington government has supported only one dioxin cleanup project in Vietnam so far. (Phap Luat Viet Nam – Vietnam Law Oct 22 p2)
