Laos intensifies efforts to address UXO threat

VIENTIANE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Laos' government continues efforts to clear contaminated land, reduce casualties and support affected communities in collaboration with international partners, local media reported on Thursday.

Lao News Agency quoted Bounpheng Sisavath, head of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Laos, as saying that UXO clearance operations are currently carried out in 13 provinces. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The operations focus on four main areas, including risk education, survey and clearance, victim assistance, and information management. Risk education programs target local communities, particularly children, by raising awareness of UXO dangers and promoting safer behavior.

The government is also working to keep annual UXO-related casualties below the strategic target of 38 people.

To date, clearance teams have safely cleared and destroyed UXO across 105,909 hectares, including 86,222 hectares of agricultural land and 19,686 hectares of land designated for development.

A total of 2,133,952 UXO items have been destroyed, comprising 5,239 large aerial bombs, 1,286,042 cluster submunitions (bombies), 2,954 landmines, and 841,717 other munitions and artillery shells.

Alongside clearance efforts, victim assistance programs have supported 1,928 survivors through medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, vocational training, employment assistance and psychological counselling for survivors and affected families.

Laos became a state party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2009. The treaty promotes international cooperation and assistance to affected countries in clearing contaminated areas and supporting victims, survivors and persons with disabilities.

Bounpheng stressed the importance of continued national and international cooperation to accelerate UXO clearance, reduce casualties, support survivors and affected families, and return contaminated land to safe and productive use.

These efforts are expected to improve safety and support socio-economic development in UXO-affected communities across the country.