Dong Ha, Quang Tri (9 October 2018) — 48 young people, natives of Quang Tri Province, started their probation today at NPA-RENEW after successfully completing a three-week training course on basic Technical Survey and Clearance. 

They have passed all the theoretical and practical tests related to ERW identification, handling of metal detectors, signal excavation and investigation, clearance site setup and medical evacuation in accordance with NPA-RENEW Standard Operating Procedures. Having been awarded Certificates of Completion, they start working as Technical Survey and Clearance operators under a two-month probation as of October 9, 2018.

With these newly recruited staff, NPA-RENEW will establish two new Battle Area Clearance (BAC) teams under the funding of UK Department for International Development (DFID) and add four Technical Survey (TS) teams to our existing operational teams under the funding of the U.S. Department of State (USDOS).

This addition of human resources will increase NPA-RENEW human assets in Quang Tri Province up to 32 teams made up with 1 Non-Technical Survey team, 25 Technical Survey teams, 4 Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, and 2 BAC teams.

NPA-RENEW would like to thank UK DFID and USDOS for providing supplemental funding which has enabled us to embrace BAC operations and to enhance TS capacity, which will contribute to our ongoing efforts to survey and clear ERW that remain in Quang Tri Province.

Project RENEW was established in 2001 as a joint effort between the government of Quang Tri Province and interested INGOs to “restore the environment and neutralize the effects of the war” – with the main focus on unexploded ordinance.

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is one of the leading organizations worldwide in humanitarian disarmament. NPA has worked in Vietnam since 2008 following the signing of an MOU with the government of Quang Tri People’s Committee to support the development of Project RENEW’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capacity. NPA’s operational footprint now covers all of Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue Provinces, with an increase of assets to four Battle Area Clearance teams, one Non-Technical Survey team, four EOD teams, and 25 Technical Survey teams.