Vietnam Issues New Rules on Handling Post War Ordnances

The Vietnamese government has recently issued a new regulation on management and implementation of post war unexploded ordnance (UXO). The latest rule, which is stipulated in Decree 18/2019/ND-CP, was signed on February 1 and will become effective from March 2019. The new regulation will govern all activities related to handling consequences of UXO, including special projects at national heritage sites or at national defense strategic sites. The latest decree will also manage projects under the control of the Ministry of National Defense. The government’s Decree 18 allows that post war consequences handling projects can receive funding from the state budget, the official development assistant (ODA), and from the private sector. Besides, the new guideline specifies work on propaganda to raise awareness of post war UXO. Decree 18 also instructs rights of victims of post war explosion ordnance, which includes early healthcare and rehabilitation. (Bao Chinh Phu, phapluatxahoi)