Protecting the environment in conflicts is a crucial need
and a shared responsibility of the international community, Ambassador Dang
Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the United Nations, has affirmed.
New York (VNA) – Protecting the environment in conflicts is
a crucial need and a shared responsibility of the international community,
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the United Nations,
has affirmed.
Quy made the statement at an online discussion jointly held
by the Vietnamese Mission to the UN, the Swiss Mission to the UN, the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the peace organisation PAX on May 29 in response to the UN
Protection of Civilians Week.
He stressed the need for States to pay attention to restore
the environment after conflicts to help civilians soon stabilise their life and
maintain sustainable peace.
He told participants that Agent Orange/dioxin has caused
serious impact on Vietnam’s population and the environment, as over 3 million
Vietnamese people are dioxin victims and hundreds of thousands of hectares of
land are contaminated by the chemical.
Meanwhile, addressing dioxin consequences needs huge
resources and time, he added.
The diplomat took the occasion to thank UN member states,
organisations and the international community for supporting Vietnam in dioxin
detoxification and helping dioxin victims.
Delegates at the event emphasised the need for more
discussions at UN and UN Security Council mechanisms on environmental
protection in armed conflicts as there is a close connection between protection
of the environment, protection of civilians, and development goals.
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