UK extends support for UXO clearance

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has received US$3.9 million from the UK government's Department for International Development to continue the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos.

The National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mines or Action Sectors (NRA) and MAG signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to kick off the clearance of target areas over the next two and a half years.

Munitions are located and detonated using five clearance teams and two roving teams in the provinces of Xieng Khuang and Khammuan, MAG Lao Country Programme Manager Mr David Hayter said.
“MAG expects to clear bombs from at least 7 million square metres, through more than 1,200 roving tasks in eight districts,” he said.

The programme will also work with partner agencies in Savannakhet and Xekong provinces when needed.
Laos is severely affected by large numbers of UXO items spread across a very wide area. Their presence not only poses a risk to local people when they are carrying out normal activities such as farming, but also prevents or delays development activities, Mr Hayter said.

In addition to these services to Lao communities, the project aims to help Laos manage its UXO programme in the long term, so over US$200,000 will go to support the strengthening of the NRA.

In recognition of MAG's long partnership with the Lao National UXO Programme, almost US$40,000 will be provided to the organisation for training costs.

This substantial investment by the British government recognises not only that bombs need to be cleared from Lao soil, but also that the Lao authorities are central to ensuring the quality and efficiency of the process, Mr Hayter said.

The grant also makes a major contribution to Laos' efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including MDG 9, a Laos-specific goal covering the UXO challenge.

British Ambassador designate Ambassador Asif Ahmad said thousands of people in Laos live a precarious and dangerous existence with the constant threat of permanent injury or death from unexploded ordnance.
The UK government is committed to continuing its efforts to ensure that the people of Laos can go about their daily lives free from the threat of UXO, he said.

“We believe it is vital that land is returned to productive agriculture; we think it is essential that children can walk to school without worrying about hazards on the path they walk on, Mr Asif Ahmad said.

Farming and education offer people the chance to lift themselves from poverty and live life to the full. But the cost of doing so cannot be the lives of innocent people, the ambassador said.

From 1964 to 1973 the equivalent of a planeload of bombs was dropped on Laos every eight minutes for nine years, amounting to over 2 million tonnes.

An estimated 30 percent of ordnance failed to explode on impact, mostly larger bombs and cluster sub-munitions.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update June 27, 2011)