Gio Linh, Quang Tri (17 November 2023) — The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team managed by NPA/RENEW on Friday safely destroyed a five-inch naval shell on a clearance site in Gio Linh District.

The quick response was initiated following a report from NPA/RENEW clearance teams working in An My Village of Gio My Commune about their finding of two large caliber munitions in the morning. In coordination with the clearance team leader Le Thi Thu Ha, EOD team leader Hoang Kim Chien decided to destroy in situ the five-inch shell that contained high explosive. The other munition containing white phosphorus would be removed to the NPA/RENEW central demolition site for later disposal.

Maintaining EOD teams and enhancing increased coordination among clearance and EOD teams help to increase productivity and efficiency of overall operations for NPA/RENEW in the province.

Four NPA/RENEW clearance teams have worked in An My village since 10 November 2023, and so far cleared over 56,000 square meters, and found 18 cluster munitions and other explosive ordnances. With NPA/RENEW’s plan to have all tasks in this village completed by 15 January 2024, a total of 195 people including 72 women and 123 men will have safe land to expand their farming and livestock production.

We thank the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Norway for the great ongoing support of NPA/RENEW’s clearance operations in Quang Tri Province.