SUMMARY OF THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS

The programme continued to reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) to vulnerable communities in Vietnam by implementing humanitarian mine action in Quang Binh and Quang Tri Provinces.

- Nine Mine Action Teams (MATs), supported by two Community Liaison (CL) Teams.

- Teams cleared 19,420 square metres of land using manual electronic and visual search techniques, removing 19 items of UXO.

- Teams also visited 3,105 houses, searching 2,870 sq/m, performing 480 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) tasks, and removing 996 items of UXO.

- Community Liaison teams conducted 12 community/partner meetings; visiting 20 villages, conducting 891 house to house surveys; documenting 92 mine/UXO reports; generating three post-clearance impact reports; and producing two case studies.

- A focus on Quality Assurance, training and standardisation ensured the continued improvement of effectiveness and efficiency within the programme.

SUMMARY OF IMPACT

- Creating a more secure environment for the Vietnamese people by reducing risk to life and limb.

- Building safer communities and working to improve the futures of people affected by the explosive remnants of conflict.

- Creating poverty alleviation opportunities by freeing up land that can be used for sustainable livelihood generation and infrastructure projects.

- Contributing to economic growth and stability by creating safer environments for communities and increasing economic independence for families working in farming, herding or scrap collecting.

For more information on this or any other of MAG's programme across the world please visit www.mag.org.uk or contact:

Communications Department, MAG, 47 Newton Street, Manchester, UK, M1 1FT, UK. Tel: +44 (0)161 236 4311, e-mail: comms@mag.org.uk.