Peace Trees Vietnam, the first US non-Government organisation
licensed for operation in the then war-stricken country, marked its 15th year of clearing land mines in Quang Tri province on Sept. 9 and 10.
The Permanent Deputy Chairman of the provincial
People’s Committee, Nguyen Duc Chinh, said at the celebration that Peace
Trees Vietnam, with funding of around 2 million USD, had contributed to
socio-economic recovery and development in several residential quarters
suffering huge war damages and struggling against the aftermath of
landmines.
He added that the US NGO had also
contributed to promoting friendship between Vietnam and the US,
whose diplomatic relations were resumed 15 years ago.
In addition to landmine clearance, Peace Trees Vietnam has also funded development projects for the province.
On September 10 for example, the US Embassy and Peace Trees Vietnam,
in association with the provincial Women’s Union, inaugurated a
kindergarten and a library for the Van Kieu ethnic minority group in Khe
Da commune, Lao Bao township, on the border with Laos .
The projects, valued at over 38,000 USD in total, were funded by Peace Trees Vietnam./.
