In the aftermath of the Vietnam-American War, Vietnamese and foreigners have held multiple discussions on how to address the issue of war legacies. Today, these discussions continue, focusing on the proper allocation of resources.

Phan Anh Son, Vice President, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations received Sarah Goring, Country Director of Mines Advisory Group in Vietnam (Photo: Valerie Mai)

"We want to hold a discussion among foreign non-organizations in the field of overcoming war consequences in Vietnam, properly appropriate and having a better plan to allocate resources."

This statement was made by Phan Anh Son, Vice President, General Secretary of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations in a meeting with Sarah Goring, Country Director of Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Vietnam on May 29.

Phan Anh Son acknowledged MAG's contribution to demining and overcoming war consequences in Vietnam. He said the People's Aid Coordination Committee PACCOM (a unit of VUFO) wanted to organize a discussion among foreign NGOs operating in Vietnam in dealing with war consequences, including MAG. The event is expected to be a forum for NGOs to discuss their works and plans, thus properly responding to their contributions and better-allocating resources to increase the effectiveness of handling war consequences in Vietnam.

Sarah Goring, Country Director of MAG in Vietnam thanked VUFO and PACCOM for supporting MAG in completing administrative procedures and implementing projects in Vietnam. MAG looks to continue to receive the companionship of VUFO and PACCOM in upcoming activities, towards its 25th anniversary of operation in Vietnam (1999-2024).

* Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a non-governmental organization established in the United Kingdom in 1989. MAG conducts humanitarian demining in areas that have been or are currently in war. To date, MAG has disposed of nearly 4.8 million unexploded ordnance, supporting the livelihoods of more than 17.7 million people in war-affected areas in more than 40 countries.

In Vietnam, MAG started its operations in Quang Tri in 1999, then expanded to Quang Binh in 2003. MAG is currently one of the largest civilian demining organizations in Vietnam.

Long Pham / Vietnamtimes