Mo Duc, Quang Ngai (August 29, 2023) – A workshop concluded today officially kicked off expansion of RENEW’s successful model to remediate war legacies in Mo Duc District of Quang Ngai Province. People everywhere remember Quang Ngai as the site of the My Lai massacre.

The workshop was held at the headquarters of Mo Duc District’s party committee and attended by the representatives of the Quang Ngai Red Cross, Disabled Persons Organization, Quang Ngai Association for Supporting Mine Action, Mo Duc District People’s Committee, Mo Duc Youth Union, and commune officials, joined by staff of RENEW.

The 18-month-long program is funded by Friends of Project RENEW, a U.S.-based all-volunteer non-profit organization that works closely with RENEW to advance its mission in Viet Nam. This expansion phase follows the successful cooperation between RENEW and Quang Ngai Red Cross to introduce risk education and victim assistance in two other districts, Ba To and Nghia Hanh, with funding provided by Irish Aid since 2019.

According to the Vietnam National Mine Action Center’s Report on unexploded ordnance contamination which was released in April 2018, Quang Ngai is among the many central provinces where unexploded bombs left from the Vietnam War still endanger people’s lives. Approximately 57% of the total land area in Quang Ngai remains contaminated with dangerous munitions which have killed 1,372 people and injured 1,560 since the end of the war.

With the support of Friends of Project RENEW, Quang Ngai Red Cross and RENEW will organize risk education outreach to equip the community with practical knowledge on how to avoid accidents and injuries caused by explosive remnants. The program will also provide necessary assistance to the families of bomb survivors and other persons with disabilities to improve their living conditions.

“The tragic history and the consequences of the war, especially in Quang Ngai and Quang Tri provinces, are well understood by American veterans and their fellow citizens in the United States,” said Searcy. “By working together, we can overcome the continuing challenges posed by the legacies of the war, and create a safe future for Vietnam’s next generation.”