LAOS’ HIDDEN SUFFERING: LANDMINES AND UXO KILLING MORE INNOCENT CHILDREN

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- In the rugged and scenic mountains of remote villages in Laos, children and farmers contend with a legacy of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) threatening their lives for over 40 years.
    

These leftover war remnants from the horrific Vietnam War have become an occupational hazard as well as a threat to the lives of innocent local communities who bear the brunt of the lethal devices.
  

Farmers cannot plough their land and children are afraid to go to school, leading many to live in fear.
   

Regardless of the active international campaigns to remove these weapons buried underground, Laos remains exposed to high risks and this year over 60 per cent of the casualties were children.


Lao National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Centre, Director General Bounpheng Sisawath, disclosed that 48 UXO-related incidents happened this year killing nine people.
    

“(Almost) 62.5 per cent of those injured or killed were children, with most accidents caused by children playing with explosives. Such accidents accounted for 35 per cent of the total, indicating an urgent need for stronger risk awareness campaigns,” said Sisawath, Vientiane Times reported in November. 


Although figures continue to vary, nearly 25,000 people are said to have lost their lives in landmine and UXO explosions over the years and 40 per cent are reported to be children, reported global agencies working on the ground. 
    

According to the Lao government, 15 out of 18 provinces are contaminated with cluster submunitions. 

Laos has been struggling to rebuild its economy.

Tourism, agriculture, mining and hydropower sectors drive Laos’ economy with a per capita income of RM4,300 (US$2,000) and the country suffers from a high inflation of about 20 per cent.

Natural disasters, underdevelopment and huge public debt continue to torment the tiny country squeezed between economically vibrant nations - China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. 
    

The United Kingdom-based Mines Advisory Group (MAG), citing the Lao government’s data, says at the end of 2023, almost 1,996 square kilometres (sq km) of land has been confirmed to contain contamination from cluster submunitions and other UXO.

The area is nearly 2.5 times the size of Singapore.
    

MAG’s Country Director for Laos, Eli Mechanic, told Bernama that the total amount is expected to rise. However, further survey is being carried out and the full extent of contamination from landmines is not known.

“Hidden dangers, like unexploded ordnance, restrict access to safe land, limiting farming and grazing areas and creating constant risks for local communities. 
    

“This prevents agricultural development and disrupts daily life, as families face safety concerns and reduced economic opportunities. Challenges in removing these devices from underground include difficult terrain, weather conditions and limited funding,” Mechanic said in an email interview.
  

MAG is a global humanitarian and advocacy organisation that locates, removes and destroys landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded bombs from places affected by conflict.
    

Its experts have been working in Laos for over 30 years, successfully clearing more than 136 sq km of contaminated land.

Their effort has made the land safe for children, families, and communities, allowing them to use it for agriculture and development without fear of accidents.
  

 MAG teams have surveyed over 1,250 sq km of land, confirmed over 1,220 sq km of hazardous areas and responded to over 37,000 explosive ordnance disposal spot tasks across 500 villages, said Mechanic.


“In total, MAG has safely destroyed more than 340,000 items of unexploded ordnance. These efforts have directly benefited over 1.18 million people. 
    

“Additionally, MAG has conducted more than 4,500 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education sessions in 320 villages, reaching over 153,000 participants to ensure communities understand the risks and know how to stay safe,” he said.
  

 Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia and with a population of about seven million people, suffered heavy bombings during the 1960s and 1970s war. 

Over two million tonnes of cluster bombs were dropped on the country during the period, according to international reports.