--Photos MAG UXO Visitor Information Centres, Laos

What can be done to raise awareness of UXO issues in Laos?

Many of the 270 million or so bombies that were dropped on Laos during the Indochina War had a high failure rate, leaving an estimated 30 percent unexploded and scattered across vast areas of land. When disturbed, even decades later, bombies and other UXO can explode, injuring and killing people as they carry out their daily activities. Vientiane Times asked for people’s thoughts on ways to tackle this pernicious problem.

Mr Phaengsy Lounoubon, a resident of Sisattanak district, Vientiane:  There are many survivors of UXO-related accidents who are suffering, along with their families, and hopefully we can do more to help them. Officials should distribute more information about the dangers of UXO and encourage villagers to inform the authorities if they find any suspicious devices. I urge everyone to help tackle this problem because together we can clear the land and rid Laos of unexploded ordnance, so that rural communities can make better progress.
 
Ms Ajee Soulivan, a resident of Xieng Khuang province: Many families in my village have suffered as a result of UXO-related accidents, and many people have been killed. Their families are suffering so much and having a hard time. One cluster bomb exploded and affected four families, not only in the short term but also in the long term. I know the government is trying to tackle this problem, and many organisations are assisting Laos in surveying and clearance using modern equipment, but it’s difficult to do this quickly because over 2 million tons of ordnance was dropped on Laos. I encourage people who live in at-risk areas to closely follow the advice given by authorities. At the same time, I urge the authorities to prioritise UXO surveys to ensure that more people aren’t killed. 
 
Mr Vieng, a resident of Vientiane: Every time I hear that someone has been killed by an exploding bomb, I feel very sad. As we know, Laos was heavily bombed during wartime. Even though there are many organisations working to locate and remove UXO, they can’t find all of the devices because many are buried in the ground. This means that people in these areas must be careful as they go about their work and play. In the meantime, the sectors responsible should advise people in affected communities to exercise more care and be on the alert for the presence of unexploded munitions.
 
Ms Lar Keomany, an employee in Champassak province: There are lots of people in my province who have been injured by unexploded munitions. I’m always sad when I hear about the hardship caused to families by UXO. Villagers continue to suffer from this affliction, and it’s unacceptable. I’m glad that the government and numerous organisations are working to address the problem and giving money to help continue the work. Hopefully, this will continue every year, and the people who were harmed by bombs will be taken care of. I’m pleased to be able to raise awareness about this important issue.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update August 30, 2022)