The pledge was made at a conference held in Hanoi on July 7 to mobilise aid for Quang Binh’s efforts to spur socio-economic development.

The event drew the participation of NGOs including Plan, the East Meet West Foundation, Clear Path International (CPI), the Landmine Survivors Network in Vietnam (LSNV) and the Centre of Small Enterprise Development Assistance (SEDA) to review the efficiency of non-governmental aid in the province.

They also discussed issues regarding assistance to war victims, in particular, and people with disabilities in general.

It was reported that nearly US$28 million in non-governmental aid was poured into Quang Binh in the 1998-2008 period, helping the locality address issues arising from its disadvantaged and calamity-hit areas.

Apart from granting aid, non-governmental organisations also provided wheel-chairs and artificial limbs to war victims, in addition to organising vocational training courses and talks on landmine safety for students and children, as well as the community at large.

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) of the UK has helped Quang Binh clear 61,000 mines and explosive materials since 2003.

Speaking at the event, Ireland ’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Maeve Collins, said her country was committed to assisting Vietnam to develop a national bomb and landmine clearance strategy and define new standards and priorities for the work.

Early this year, a mine clearance team from Ireland arrived in Vietnam to address issues relating to unexploded ordinance, the ambassador said.

The conference was co-organised by the Quang Binh provincial People’s Committee, the Working Committee for Non-governmental Organisations and the Landmine Survivors Network.

Source: VOVNews/VNA