Kim Thach, Quang Trị (27 June 2024) – NPA/RENEW has deployed four clearance teams to a critical and high impact task: clearing a confirmed hazardous area contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO). 

This confirmed contaminated area, spanning four villages across Thach Kim, Trung Nam, and Vinh Thai communes, poses a serious threat towards local communities, who rely on the land for rice, vegetables, and perennial trees.

In just the first three days of operation, the NPA/RENEW teams have made significant progress, successfully clearing over 37,000 square meters of land. They have safely disposed of several hazardous items, which included detonating a rocket discovered just 25 centimeters below the surface, along with three cluster munitions and three other types of explosive ordnance.

Following is a footage of the teams’ detonation of the rocket found on the rice paddy field on Monday, 24 June 2024.

The total area that needs to be cleared is nearly 1.4 million square meters. When completed in December 2024, the land will be handed over to local communities, free from explosive ordnance threats and allow for safe and productive use of the land, fostering further development in the locality.

The success of this operation will have a significant positive impact on the lives of 1,277 people, including 327 men, 368 women, 306 boys, and 276 girls. A safer future for families and the entire community is within reach thanks to NPA/RENEW’s dedication.

We express our sincere gratitude to the governments of the United States and Norway for their ongoing support of NPA/RENEW mine action work in Quang Tri Province. This collaboration plays a vital role in keeping residents safe and allowing communities to thrive.