Binh Dinh, 23 May 2024 – With the support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),  officially launched the Mine Action for the Korea – Viet Nam Peace Village Project (KVPVP) in Binh Dinh province on 23 May 2024.

Through the new project, 10,000 hectares of land will be surveyed and approximately 6,000 hectares are expected to be cleared in three provinces – Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh - by the end of 2026. Alongside mine action activities, the project will aim to contribute significantly to local development for affected communities. This includes constructing climate-resilient infrastructures and supporting climate-smart agricultural practices in vulnerable areas, where extreme weather events like floods and storms happen frequently. 

Explosive ordnance (EO) remaining from decades of war continue to pose a threat to the lives and livelihoods of people in Viet Nam. The ongoing efforts in mine action across central Viet Nam are crucial for enhancing safety and driving local development. The region, heavily impacted by EO, faces significant risks that impede its progress. By removing these hidden dangers, people will be protected from the constant threat of these remnants of war.

At the launch ceremony, Colonel Le Quang Hop, Deputy General Director of VNMAC, said that the main objectives of KVPVP include contributing to overcoming the impacts of post-war EO in prioritized areas to build peace villages in Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces. At the same time, the project aims to enhance the capacity of mine action operators in Viet Nam and to effectively implement regulations related to supporting EO victims and people with disabilities in project areas.

KVPVP is the follow-up phase of the successful Korea – Viet Nam Mine Action Project (KVMAP), which achieved remarkable results from 2018 to 2021 in Survey and Clearance, Victim Assistance, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Information Management and Capacity Building. During KVMAP, approximately 17,000 hectares were surveyed, and 10,000 hectares were cleared; 450,000 people in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces received risk education; over 1,000 EO survivors had health screenings; and 174 survivors, including children, received prosthetic devices and surgical operations.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr. Lee Byung Hwa, KOICA Viet Nam Country Director, stated: “KVPVP is KOICA’s largest project in the field of mine action and aims to build a “Peace Village” by adopting an integrated approach to demining and linking it to sustainable economic and social development. I believe that mine action is not only important in terms of “securing safety” by itself but is even more meaningful when the cleared land is utilized for local development.”  

On 22 May, UNDP together with KOICA, VNMAC, and the People’s Committee of Binh Dinh provinces, handed over a climate resilient commune health station to the people of Phuoc Thanh Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, Binh Dinh. This is one of 50 health stations that the project aims to support in Thua Thien–Hue, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh provinces. By incorporating climate resilience features, such as rooftop solar panels, telehealth function room, and vaccine transportation boxes, these health stations will be better equipped to continue delivering critical health services amidst extreme weather events. In addition, 400 flood and storm-resilient houses will be built for local people in these three provinces, bringing more stability to their daily lives.

The launch of KVPVP reaffirms the strong tri-partite partnership between KOICA, VNMAC, and UNDP, in collaboration with the Provincial People’s Committee in minimizing the impacts of post-war EO in Viet Nam. “I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Government of Viet Nam, particularly the Ministry of Defense, and VNMAC. We also deeply appreciate our partnership with the provincial authorities of Thua Thien–Hue, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh provinces. Lastly, the project would not be possible without the generous support of the Government and People of Korea, who wish to see mine action contribute to peace and development in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Viet Nam,” said Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam. 

By integrating demining activities with initiatives that support climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, the project aims to ensure that the benefits of mine action extend far beyond immediate safety. It lays the foundation for long-term socio-economic development, helping communities to thrive. This unified effort is a testament to the belief that through partnerships, the legacies of war can be overcome to build a brighter and more secure future for the people of Viet Nam. 
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For more information, please contact: 
Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, UNDP Communications Officer, nguyen.thi.thuy.duong@undp.org