Promote the handling of dioxin contamination in Vietnam

 
Deputy Vo Tuan Nhan spoke at the reviewconference

     It is one of the highly appreciated outcome of the Office of the National Steering Committee on Agent Orange/dioxin during the war in Vietnam (Office of the Steering Committee 33).

     At the review meeting of the Office on December 20, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan urged theOffice of the Steering Committee 33 to advise and assist the Steering Committee 33 in leading and coordinating with the ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement remedial work of toxic chemicals used by the U.S. during the war in Vietnam.

     Particularly, the Office need to with the Thua Thien – Hue People's Committee to implement the project "Construction the evidence area of toxic chemicals used by the US during Vietnam war"; strengthen monitoring and counseling to help the Prime Minister in the solution to handle the arising volume of soil and sediments in the dioxin processing project at Da Nang airport and dioxin treatment plan at Bien Hoa airport.

     Besides, the Office should actively cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop research activities on the impact of chemicals/dioxin on the environment and people, research on appropriate technologies to handle dioxin contamination in different regions in the 2017-2020period; simultaneously continuing to strengthen international cooperation, deploy the policy of cooperation combined with fighting, request the U.S. government to enhance the support to Vietnam in the remedial work of Agent Orange/dioxin and health care for Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam.

     In 2016, the international cooperation was strengthened through meetings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the U.S. Embassy, theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) aiming at thoroughly solving dioxin contamination in Vietnam; promote cooperation in scientific research in the field of dioxin; while implementing humanitarian assistance activities for the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

(PV- http://www.monre.gov.vn)