Dong Ha, Quang Tri (28 September 2022) — The signing of a continued new cooperation agreement on Tuesday between NPA Vietnam and the government of Quang Tri province marked 15 years of NPA’s commitment to clearing the province of cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war (ERW).

By signing the project document, Mr. Jan Erik Støa, NPA Vietnam Country Director, and Ms. Nguyen Trieu Thuong, Director of Quang Tri Department of Foreign Affairs, confirmed their cooperation to implement Project RENEW’s ERW Survey and Clearance Program until 2025, with funding from the governments of the United States and Norway.

“We highly appreciate NPA Vietnam for its strong commitment and support during the last 15 years,” said Mr. Hoang Nam, Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Provincial Mine Action Steering Committee. “I would like to re-affirm that Quang Tri needs NPA to stay and help make the province safe from the impact of explosive ordnance.”

Deputy Chairman Hoang Nam was present at the ceremony with other representatives from Provincial Military Command, Department of Planning and Investment, Quang Tri Mine Action Center, and Project RENEW to witness the signing.

RENEW/NPA now deploys on the ground 22 teams consisting of nearly 300 staff members working every day to respond to people’s emergency callouts, map out contaminated areas, and release safe land for the community for normal use and further development. Over 120,000 unexploded bombs have been found and safely destroyed from all these activities.

Our thanks go to the Government of the United States and Norway for their long-term support to mine action work in Quang Tri Province.