Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Over 28,000 ha become UXO-free
By Phetsamone
(KPL) Over 28,000 ha of farmland has become UXO-free due to efforts by non-profit and commercial UXO clearance bodies.
More than 70 officials have discussed preparing the UXO action plan on implementing the UN Convention on Cluster Munitions over the next 10 years.
A meeting on the issue was held yesterday by the National Regulatory Authority for UXO\Mine Action Sector with the presence of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Alounkeo Kittikhoun.
The UXO clearance is obligation of the Lao government to materialize the requirements of the UN Convention on Cluster Munitions which the Lao PDR is a state party. Thus, the Lao PDR inevitably requires foreign assistance and cooperation to clear unexplored bombs scattered nationwide.
Laos is the most bombarded in the world and every year the UXO kills many Lao people, said Mr. Alounkeo.
One third of the national territory is contaminated with UXOs, including 276 million cluster bombs.
).
Germany backs UXO clearance in Luang Prabang
(KPL) The German government yesterday signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vientiane to continue support for unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance.
Germany agreed to provide 250,000 euros to support the work of the Lao National UXO Programme (UXO Lao) in Luang Prabang province for 2011.
The contribution adds to the more than 11 million euros Germany has provided to Laos and its people to deal with UXO since 1992, Charge dAffaires at the German Embassy to Laos Mr Wolfgang Joachim Thoran said at the signing ceremony.
Germany is proud to be associated with UXO Lao and the UNDP, and is very happy with the results the cooperation has achieved so far, he added.
Through the latest commitment, Germany continues its two-pronged approach to UXO action. On the one hand, Germany supports UXO Lao operations in Luang Prabang province and on the other it is funding an integrated programme of UXO clearance and development in Borikhamxay province implemented by Dodi International.
This support will further the reach of UXO Lao in Luang Prabang province and will ultimately benefit the people of the province,� said UNDP Resident Representative Mr Minh Pham.
The work of UXO Lao here is also vitally important in preserving the area around the UNESCO World Heritage listed town.
The German government is a strong and dependable supporter of UXO Lao, providing annual contributions that go towards clearing UXO in Luang Prabang, a world heritage site, said UXO Lao Director Mr Bounpone Sayasenh.
In the words most bombed country per capita, the continued presence of UXO poses serious humanitarian and development challenges .
Thirty-five years after the Indochina war ended people are still falling victim to UXO accidents, compounding the effects of poverty and hindering efforts aimed at poverty reduction.
UXO hinders the nations efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to graduate from the UNs list of least development countries by 2020.
From 1998 to the present, the funds provided by Germany through the UNDP for UXO programmes in Laos amounts to almost US$3 million.
As a direct result of these funds 1,960 hectares of land has been cleared, 183 hectares of land has been released through technical surveys, and some 380,000 people have benefited from risk awareness activities.
UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,715 hectares of land since 1996. More than 16,533 hectares of this was agricultural land, the clearance of which benefited more than 3.3 million people, according to UXO Lao.
UXO Lao staff have visited almost 8,629 villages, conducting community awareness activities on the dangers of UXO for more than 2.1 million people.
So far clearance teams have destroyed more than 984,200 items of UXO, of which 46 percent were sub-munitions from cluster bombs.
UXO Lao works to clear bombs in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Champassak and Attapeu.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Australia extends support for UXO clearance
The Australian government yesterday provided a further AU$2.5 million to the trust fund to aid clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos.
A signing ceremony was held in Vientiane for the grant assistance, which will support the operations of the Lao National UXO Programme (UXO Lao) from 2011-12 to continue managing and implementing UXO clearance and risk education campaigns.
“I am pleased to be here at this signing ceremony to pledge Australia's support for the clearance operations of UXO Lao,” Australian Ambassador to Laos Ms Lynda Worthaisong said.
She said that every day cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remains from wars continue to harm and kill innocent people and also impact on development in many countries, including Laos.
The devastating effects of these devices are long lasting, not only for victims, but also their families, communities and country's long-term development.
The presence of UXO can deprive affected populations of basic needs such as water, food, education and access to markets.
Progress in Laos in recent years has been significant in terms of actual UXO clearance, sector planning and regulation, policy discussions and advocacy.
The country's successful hosting of the Meeting of States Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in November last year was evidence of the country's leadership on the issue, but much remains to be done, Ms Worthaisong pointed out.
In Laos, Australia already supports a wide range of efforts by government, international and local organisations to reduce the threat of UXO, enable safe community access to land, improve the services available to victims, sector planning and coordination, she added.
These additional funds will also support internal quality control teams to ensure work is conducted in accordance with the National UXO Mine Action Standards, she said.
“We expect that this grant assistance will improve the lives of affected families by giving them safe access to land for farming and other daily activities,” the Australian Ambassador said.
The latest assistance brings the total Australian contribution to UXO clearance in Laos to more than AU$23 million since 1996.
The contribution is part of the Australian government's mine action strategy, which has seen the country commit AU$100 million to mine action globally from 2010-14.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representa-tive Mr Minh Pham said the correlation between UXO and poverty is clear to see with 41 of the 47 poorest districts in Laos contaminated by UXO.
Australia's contribution is very important in helping Laos to achieve its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions and targets set under the Millennium Development Goals for 2015, he pointed out.
UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,715 hectares of land since 1996. As more than 16,533 hectares of this area is agricultural land, the clearance has benefited more than 3.3 million people, according to UXO Lao.
UXO Lao staff have visited almost 8,629 villages, conducting community awareness activities on the dangers of UXO for more than 2.1 million people.
So far staff have destroyed more than 984,200 items of UXO, of which 46 percent were sub-munitions from cluster bombs.
UXO Lao works to clear bombs in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Champassak and Attapeu.
A signing ceremony was held in Vientiane for the grant assistance, which will support the operations of the Lao National UXO Programme (UXO Lao) from 2011-12 to continue managing and implementing UXO clearance and risk education campaigns.
“I am pleased to be here at this signing ceremony to pledge Australia's support for the clearance operations of UXO Lao,” Australian Ambassador to Laos Ms Lynda Worthaisong said.
She said that every day cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remains from wars continue to harm and kill innocent people and also impact on development in many countries, including Laos.
The devastating effects of these devices are long lasting, not only for victims, but also their families, communities and country's long-term development.
The presence of UXO can deprive affected populations of basic needs such as water, food, education and access to markets.
Progress in Laos in recent years has been significant in terms of actual UXO clearance, sector planning and regulation, policy discussions and advocacy.
The country's successful hosting of the Meeting of States Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in November last year was evidence of the country's leadership on the issue, but much remains to be done, Ms Worthaisong pointed out.
In Laos, Australia already supports a wide range of efforts by government, international and local organisations to reduce the threat of UXO, enable safe community access to land, improve the services available to victims, sector planning and coordination, she added.
These additional funds will also support internal quality control teams to ensure work is conducted in accordance with the National UXO Mine Action Standards, she said.
“We expect that this grant assistance will improve the lives of affected families by giving them safe access to land for farming and other daily activities,” the Australian Ambassador said.
The latest assistance brings the total Australian contribution to UXO clearance in Laos to more than AU$23 million since 1996.
The contribution is part of the Australian government's mine action strategy, which has seen the country commit AU$100 million to mine action globally from 2010-14.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representa-tive Mr Minh Pham said the correlation between UXO and poverty is clear to see with 41 of the 47 poorest districts in Laos contaminated by UXO.
Australia's contribution is very important in helping Laos to achieve its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions and targets set under the Millennium Development Goals for 2015, he pointed out.
UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,715 hectares of land since 1996. As more than 16,533 hectares of this area is agricultural land, the clearance has benefited more than 3.3 million people, according to UXO Lao.
UXO Lao staff have visited almost 8,629 villages, conducting community awareness activities on the dangers of UXO for more than 2.1 million people.
So far staff have destroyed more than 984,200 items of UXO, of which 46 percent were sub-munitions from cluster bombs.
UXO Lao works to clear bombs in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Champassak and Attapeu.
By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update May 11, 2011)
(Latest Update May 11, 2011)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Laos need more fund to address UXO
(KPL) Lao National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sectors in Lao PDR (NRA) in collaboration with the United Nations for Development Programme (UNDP) organized on 29 April a meeting to review its plan on UXO.
The meeting jointly chaired by Mr. Phoukieu Chanthasomboun, Head Office of NRA and Mr. Minh Pham , representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to Laos.
The meeting reviewed the plan of NRA made in the year of 2010 and introduced the action plan and budget plan of NRA for 2011.
The plan targets cutting the number of UXO casualties from 300 to 75 people a year by 2020.
According to the NRA, casualties have decreased from about 300 a year in the past decade to 117 a year in 2010.
A major part of the plan will be to alter people’s behaviour through educating at-risk groups in classroom based initiatives.
The plan also requires that village volunteers act as peer educators among other villagers and at-risk groups.
The plan also seeks to ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO survivors are met in line with treaty obligations. To do this, emergency medical response should be provided at the village level and an effective rural transfer or ambulance system should be developed.
Under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, signatories agree to prohibit all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions.
The convention outlines an eight-year timeframe for signatory nations to destroy any stockpiles of cluster munitions they have, with a possible four-year extension under certain circumstances.
The convention also includes a 10-year timeframe to clear all UXO-contaminated areas.
Source: KPL Lao News Agency
May 05, 2011
The meeting jointly chaired by Mr. Phoukieu Chanthasomboun, Head Office of NRA and Mr. Minh Pham , representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to Laos.
The meeting reviewed the plan of NRA made in the year of 2010 and introduced the action plan and budget plan of NRA for 2011.
The plan targets cutting the number of UXO casualties from 300 to 75 people a year by 2020.
According to the NRA, casualties have decreased from about 300 a year in the past decade to 117 a year in 2010.
A major part of the plan will be to alter people’s behaviour through educating at-risk groups in classroom based initiatives.
The plan also requires that village volunteers act as peer educators among other villagers and at-risk groups.
The plan also seeks to ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO survivors are met in line with treaty obligations. To do this, emergency medical response should be provided at the village level and an effective rural transfer or ambulance system should be developed.
Under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, signatories agree to prohibit all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions.
The convention outlines an eight-year timeframe for signatory nations to destroy any stockpiles of cluster munitions they have, with a possible four-year extension under certain circumstances.
The convention also includes a 10-year timeframe to clear all UXO-contaminated areas.
Source: KPL Lao News Agency
May 05, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
UXO victims reduced in number
(KPL) The number of the unexploded ordnance victims has been reduced from 300 in 2007 to 85 people last year, according to Director of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO\Mine Action Sector, Mr. Phoukhiao Chanthasomboune.
Mr. Phoukhiao said that the Lao government was determined to have reduced the annual number of UXO victims to 75 people in 2020.
The NRA in cooperation with the United Nations and international donors has provided economic assistance to the UXO victims and help them access to physical rehabilitation and UXO-free farmland.
The National Regulatory Authority for UXO\Mine Action Sector in cooperation with the UNDP held a review meeting on UXO activities in 2010.
The participants of the meeting recognized that it was difficult to have more than 200,000 ha that is UXO-contaminated safe for agricultural and development activities by 2020.
The meeting was co-chaired by Director of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO\Mine Action Sector Phoukhiao Chanthasomboune and UNDP Resident Representative Minh Pham.
Funding increase for UXO clearance
The Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) has received its new budget, UXO Lao Director Mr Bounpone Sayasenh said at the annual meeting held in Vientiane on Friday.
Unexploded ordnance clea-rance is not getting cheaper, with fuel costs rising and the value of the US dollar falling, and costs are becoming harder to meet each year. The 2011 budget for UXO Lao is about US$7.9 million compared to 2010, when the budget was about US$6.8 million.
UXO Lao works to clear bo mbs in the provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Champassak and Attapeu. The organisation's workers have set themselves an ambitious goa l for 2011, with challenges ahead as they come to grips with detector problems.
However, setting the bar high will provide more motivation to solve technical problems and implement new technologies, Mr Bounpone said.
For UXO Lao to truly address the Convention on Cluster Munitions obligations “We need major increases in capacity; this can only be done by increased funding,” he said.
Last year was very busy for UXO Lao, he said, culminating in the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The organisation had many visitors throughout the year and received a lot of media attention, which they hope will help procure future funding. UXO Lao has cleared more than 19,185 hectares of land since 1996.
More than 16,000 hectares of the cleared land is agricultural, bringing benefits to more than 3.3 million people. Staff have visited almost 8,500 villages and conducted community awareness activities on the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
So far UXO Lao staff have destroyed more than 973,000 devices, of which 46 percent were cluster bomb sub-munitions.
By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)