Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) Vientiane (VNA) – According to the Lao press on April 6, Laos cleared and defusedover 1.8 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) and cleaned up 79,599 ha of land from1996 to February 2023, providing safe land for cultivation and development.
Laos is one of the most severely affected countries by theaftermath of intense bombing during the war from 1964 to 1973. The large numberof UXO still buried in the ground continues to cause damage and affect thelivelihoods of the people, hindering the use of land for agriculturalproduction and national socio-economic development. Despite significantefforts, resolving this issue remains a daunting task with many challenges.
According to non-technical surveys conductedfrom 2011-2022 in 2,709 villages and technical surveys from 2010-2022 in 1,804villages in Laos, approximately 175,000 ha of land in the country have beenidentified as being affected by cluster bombs.
Speakingon the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in MineAction on April 4, Lao Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare PadeumphoneSonthany said solving the UXO issue in the country requires closer coordinationbetween relevant central and local agencies, as well as the support ofinternational organisations, to develop a national strategic plan toeffectively address the issue in the long term./.
