The Vietnam office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said it will closely work with local authorities on a project to clean dioxin-contaminated areas in Vietnam.
UNDP has just announced a project titled "Capacity Building and Completion of the Overall National Plan for Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots in Vietnam," which will benefit several provinces nationwide.
UNDP will work with Office 33 under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Defence to implement the project costing USD 350,000. Office 33, also known as Committee 33, is the Secretariat of the National Steering Committee for Overcoming Consequences of Toxic Chemicals Used in the War in Vietnam.
A UNDP representative said the project will help strengthen the foundations for overcoming consequences of toxic chemicals used in the war by building capacities for planning, assessment, and remediation of dioxin-contaminated hotspots.
First areas under consideration include Da Nang City, Bien Hoa City and Phu Dat District in the central Binh Dinh Province. The project will also help complete the overall national plan for dioxin hotspot remediation, including specific action plans for remediation and to ensure safe land use in and around these hotspots.
It will thus help eliminate the continued health risks faced by local residents and workers due to pollutants that still linger in soil and sediments.
"The UN is mandated to support Vietnam to fulfill its obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which includes dioxin contamination," said John Hendra, UN resident coordinator in Vietnam.
Vietnam ratified the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in July 2002 and developed a National Implementation Plan on POPs, which was endorsed by the Prime Minister in August 2006. Dioxin is a POP that is highly toxic.
The Plan gives an early estimate of USD 50.8 million needed for remediation of all hotspots.
Source: Sai Gon Times, Aug. 28, 2007