MAG played host to four high-level members of the Vietnamese government on Monday.
Members of VUFO (Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations) and PACCOM, responsible for facilitating the work of all international non-governmental organisations in Vietnam are visiting, along with representatives of BOMICEN and VBMAC, the leading government authorities in unexploded ordnance clearance in Vietnam.
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The delegation with MAG's Vietnam Country Programme Manager Jimmy Roodt (far left) and Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE (third left). |
During the week-long stay in Manchester, they will attend a series of meetings at MAG headquarters and visit local attractions.
MAG is the largest non-military organisation working in Vietnam to clear the huge amount of unexploded ordnance left over from the war in the 1960s and '70s.
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Mr Nguyen Van Kien, Vice President of VUFO signs MAG's visitors' book. |
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Mr Duong Van Nhan of VBMAC receives a framed photo from MAG's Vietnam operations. |
MAG works in and around what was the demilitarised zone, which was heavily bombed during the war. As a growing country, the Vietnamese government is keen to support MAG’s work, recognising it is vital to encourage further development and financial investment.
“It’s crucial that MAG has a strong working relationship with the Vietnamese authorities for our work in the country to be a success," said MAG Vietnam Country Programme Manager Jimmy Roodt.
"Visits like this allow us to understand each other’s working cultures and to discuss how we’ll continue to co-operate to reduce the threat posed to communities in Vietnam by all remnants of war.”
MAG began its operations in Vietnam in 1999, expanding out of the demilitarised zone into nearby Quang Binh province in 2003.
Between January and March MAG’s teams in Vietnam cleared nearly 132,000 square metres of land, destroying 2,430 items of unexploded ordnance.
The residents of 35 villages, around 81,000 people, directly benefitted from this work, which is funded by the US State Department, the UK Department for International Development, Irish Aid, Talisman Energy and Adopt-a-Minefield, amongst others.
MAG’s Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE said: “We are very pleased to welcome the delegation to Manchester, and to show them round our city. We hope they will enjoy their stay and return to Vietnam with better knowledge of MAG, and our joint aim to remove the threat of unexploded ordnance for the people of Vietnam.”
Images from MAG's programme in Vietnam:
Created with flickr slideshow. Photos: Sean Sutton / MAG
Links:
- MAG Vietnam microsite – more about MAG's work in the country
- Why does MAG work in Vietnam?
- Donate to MAG online - more than 90 per cent of MAG's income is spent directly on clearance programmes
- Other ways to Get Involved - shop, run, walk, skydive, drink wine...
- Click on Tags below for related articles
22 June 09
MAG's work in Vietnam is supported by: Adopt-a-Minefield; DFID (UK Department for International Development); Imperial Tobacco; Irish Aid; Jersey Overseas Aid; Talisman Energy; Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State.
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