| Date added: | 06/08/2015 |
| Downloads: | 3753 |
The “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots in Viet Nam” project was carried out in Bien Hoa (BH), Binh Dinh (BD) and Da Nang from 2010. The communication component of the project aimed to disseminate knowledge on dioxin and dioxin exposure prevention (DEP) measures to residents of local communities and was carried out in parallel with other dioxin remediation activities. This knowledge dissemination was initially done via national and international workshops in all three locations. The information presented in these workshops was targeted at both high-level government officials and international attendees. The information was largely confined to technical information about dioxin remediation, rather than information about DEP. Therefore, a communication component (CC) for communities in the hotspots was conducted by Office 33 in four wards near the BH airbase from November 2013. This endline survey will focus on evaluating the CC, including a comparison between results achieved in BD and an initial baseline survey.
| Date added: | 07/08/2015 |
| Downloads: | 3867 |
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project PIMS 3685 “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots in Viet Nam” (hereafter also referred to as “dioxin project”) aims to reduce or eliminate the risks to human health and ecosystems due to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) in each of three hotspot areas: Da Nang, Bien Hoa and Phu Cat. Hotspots have high residual dioxin concentrations in soil, sediment and other contaminated media (such as fish tissues) due to the storage, use and spillage of Agent Orange during the US-Viet Nam war.
The project goals will be achieved through containing and remediating dioxin contamination, introducing land use practices on and around hotspots that eliminate risks of further contamination, and by fostering the technical, institutional and financial capacity of Vietnamese government counterparts to address other contamination sites beyond the identified hotspots.
This report evaluates key project activities over the past four years and the project’s impacts and benefits to the environment and local people surrounding the three main dioxin hotspots of Da Nang, Bien Hoa and Phu Cat.
| Date added: | 04/15/2015 |
| Downloads: | 6777 |
Dioxins are products of fire and the most toxic compounds of all toxic chemicals discovered and produced by human beings.
Over the past decades, dioxins and their impacts on the environment and human are always the topic attracting attention and research of scientists, especially those from developed. Every year, in the summer, the International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants is organized with the participation of approximately 1,000 delegates from many countries. The Madrid 34th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants was held in Spain in September, 2014 and the 35th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants will be organized in Brazil in August 2015.
As the consequences of the herbicides used by the US during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1972, Vietnam has become the focal point for those who are interested in dioxin problems. At least 366 kg of dioxins (Stellman, Nature 2004) from herbicides, mostly from Agent Orange, was sprayed in the South of Vietnam.
With participation of some organizations and individuals from the USA, Japan and Canada, etc. there have been a number of researches on dioxins and their impacts on humans and the environment in Vietnam. Although it has been made clear to some items of concern, there remain a lot of questions on dioxin issues due to the complexity of dioxins and the research conditions in Vietnam.
Researches on dioxins from herbicides not only help us to overcome the consequences but also create fundamental basis to study, control and minimize the impacts by dioxins from other sources.
For some of the above reasons, the report on “Dioxin Contamination in Vietnam: Emissions from Industries and Levels in the Environment” has been compiled by Office of National Steering Committee 33/Project “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots in Vietnam”. Basic information about dioxin properties; dioxin emissions from wastes and waste treatment, paper industry, cement, metallurgy and brick production, etc. and dioxin residues in the soil, water and air environments in some regions in Vietnam; and dioxins in heavily contaminated areas have been mentioned in the report.
However, due to restricted technical conditions and cost for additional researches, a comprehensive research program on dioxin contamination in the environment and dioxin impact on the human in Vietnam has yet been carried out. It is also because of this that there has yet been a controlling and exposure prevention system for dioxins and dioxin related compounds from herbicides or other sources. Nevertheless, this report provides scientists, environmental management staff and other stakeholders a general picture on dioxins and dioxin contamination in Vietnam. Then, a glimpse of things required to be done in the coming time will be visualized.
| Date added: | 04/15/2015 |
| Downloads: | 6497 |
Office of National Steering Committee 33, in cooperation with national and international experts, published the first edition of “Comprehensive Report Agent Orange/Dioxin Contamination at three hotspots: Bien Hoa, Da Nang, Phu Cat Airbases” in 2011. This Comprehensive Report summarizes results from valuable reports carried out by Ministry of National Defense, Office 33, Committee 10-80, Hatfield Consultant, USAID and other related sectors.
From 2011 to present, some additional researches and environmental remediation activities have been conducted in hotspots; for examples: research on 7 former airports by Vietnam Ministry of National Defense; additional study on dioxin contamination in Bien Hoa and Phu Cat Airbases by Dioxin Project (GEF/UNDP funded); study on dioxin contamination in the vicinities of Bien Hoa Airbase by DONRE, Dong Nai province, and other researches.
In order to keep sharing information, Office of National Steering Committee 33 and UNDP agreed to update and edit this Comprehensive Report. We hopefully expect that this new edition will serve as a useful source of information scientists and authorities who are interested in Agent Orange/Dioxin issue in Vietnam. Moreover, this Comprehensive Report also contributes to call the interest and attention of international community in sharing with Vietnam in overcoming consequences caused by Agent Orange/Dioxin. Editors would like to welcome all the contributions for the following update.
Michel Sidibé
Executive Director of UNAIDS
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
This World AIDS Day, we are highlighting the importance of the right to health and the challenges that people living with and affected by HIV face in fulfilling that right.
Community spaces design contest for an exciting hanoi
Ha Noi, October 17/10/2017 - Aiming at improving the living environment and bringing culture and art to the community towards a better urban future, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) successfully developed the project “Promote participatory, community-based and youth-led approach in safe, greening public spaces in Hoan Kiem district toward a pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable urban development” (hereinafter called Public Spaces project) under the Block by Block program with Mojang, the makers of the videogame Minecraft.
Deadline for round 1: From 17/10/2017 to 04/11/2017 Extended to 9 November 2017
Harsh punishment for child offenders doesn’t prevent further criminality
The age at which a child, can be held criminally liable is a controversial issue around the world. Within Viet Nam, this issue is currently being grappled with in the Penal Code amendments. Some argue that a "get tough on crime" approach is necessary to punish children to prevent further criminality.
However, international research shows that because of their developmental stages, labelling and treating children as criminals at an early age can have serious negative impacts on their development and successful rehabilitation.
New Year Greetings from the United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. in Viet Nam
On the occasion of New Year 2017, on behalf of the United Nations family in Viet Nam I wish to reiterate our appreciation and express our warmest wishes to our partners and friends throughout the country. We wish our partners and their families in Viet Nam peace, prosperity, good health and happiness in the coming year.
As we enter the second year of the Sustainable Development Goals era, we look forward to continuing our close cooperation for the sake of Viet Nam’s future development; one which is inclusive, equitable and sustainable, with no one left behind.
Youssouf Abdel-Jelil
United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. in Viet Nam
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December
Thirty-five years since the emergence of AIDS, the international community can look back with some pride. But we must also look ahead with resolve and commitment to reach our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
There has been real progress in tackling the disease. More people than ever are on treatment. Since 2010, the number of children infected through mother to child transmission has dropped by half. Fewer people die of AIDS related causes each year. And people living with HIV are living longer lives.
The number of people with access to life-saving medicines has doubled over the past five years, now topping 18 million. With the right investments, the world can get on the fast-track to achieve our target of 30 million people on treatment by 2030. Access to HIV medicines to prevent mother to child transmission is now available to more than 75 per cent of those in need.
