Central Vietnam- Explosive remnants of the Vietnam War have claimed their latest victims in Central Vietnam killing a 14 year old boy and injuring an 18 year old in two incidents over the past week.
Ho Van Hi, 18, was farming a kilometer from his home when he is believed to have struck a cluster munition with his hoe. He received extensive injuries in his legs and torso and is recovering in central Vietnam's Quang Tri General Hospital.
In another incident three days later, 14 year old Ho Van Vi and a friend discovered a decades old 105mm shell on a beach near their homes. Curious as to what it was, they threw rocks at it and the bomb exploded. Vi was killed instantly, however his companion escaped injury.
Although the Vietnam War ended over 30 years ago, by some estimates over 350,000 tons of bombs that did not detonate when dropped remain in the ground. This ordnance regularly claims lives and limbs.Since the conflict ended in 1975, nearly 40,000 Vietnamese have been killed by by these munitions.
US based Clear Path International serves landmine and bomb accident survivors, their families and their communities in former war zones in Southeast Asia. This assistance takes the form of both direct and indirect medical and social services to survivor families as well as equipment support to hospitals.
Current Clear Path projects are in Vietnam, Cambodia and on the Thai-Burma border. More information about Clear Path International can be found on the web at www.cpi.org.
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