Laos defuses nearly 2 million UXO in nearly three decades

Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

Vientiane (VNA) – According to the Lao press on April 6, Laos cleared and defused over 1.8 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) and cleaned up 79,599 ha of land from 1996 to February 2023, providing safe land for cultivation and development.

Laos is one of the most severely affected countries by the aftermath of intense bombing during the war from 1964 to 1973. The large number of UXO still buried in the ground continues to cause damage and affect the livelihoods of the people, hindering the use of land for agricultural production and national socio-economic development. Despite significant efforts, resolving this issue remains a daunting task with many challenges.

According to non-technical surveys conducted from 2011-2022 in 2,709 villages and technical surveys from 2010-2022 in 1,804 villages in Laos, approximately 175,000 ha of land in the country have been identified as being affected by cluster bombs.

Speaking on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on April 4, Lao Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Padeumphone Sonthany said solving the UXO issue in the country requires closer coordination between relevant central and local agencies, as well as the support of international organisations, to develop a national strategic plan to effectively address the issue in the long term./.