Dong Ha, Quang Tri (07 December 2023) — 15 Vietnamese trainees from the NPA/RENEW’s Clearance Program and Quang Tri Mine Action Center on Monday were awarded International Mine Action Standards Explosive Ordnance Disposal (IMAS EOD) Level II Certificates signed by NPA Vietnam Country Director.

As delegated by Jan Erik Støa, NPA Vietnam Country Director, Quang Tri Provincial Operations Manager Mai Van Viet handed out IMAS EOD Level II Certificates to one manager and 13 deputy team leaders from NPA/RENEW, and one staff from Quang Tri Mine Action Center. These trainees just completed a two-month field mentoring by NPA/RENEW’s most senior field operations officers and EOD team leaders.

Deputy leader of the all-women clearance team Phan Thi Thu Huong on half of the trainees thanked NPA/RENEW and all the instructors. “With knowledge and skills acquired from the training course, we have fulfilled many tasks to safely dispose of explosive munitions found on the sites,” Huong said. “In the coming time, we are looking forward to having more opportunities to advance our EOD skills in different circumstances and mine action activities.”

This IMAS EOD Level II course was conducted based on the training package developed by the NPA Department for Mine Action and Disarmament in accordance with the International Mine Action Standards. NPA/RENEW instructors were able to share their best practices of 15 years field work in identification and disposal of explosive ordnance frequently found in Quang Tri Province.

“Capacity development for national staff has been NPA Vietnam’s primary priorities since it started operations in Viet Nam,” NPA Provincial Program Manager Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh said. “Well-trained and professional national staff are important human resource for Vietnam in dealing with explosive remnants of war in the long term.”

Our thanks go to the United States and Norway for their great and ongoing support of NPA/RENEW’s clearance and EOD operations in Quang Tri Province.