Project to pilot use of vehicles in UXO clearance

The Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS) will begin to use vehicles for unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance for the first time in Laos starting in January.

Mr Phoukhiew Chanthasomboun ( left ) and JMAS representative Mr Junichi Kurokawa shake hands after signing the memorandum of understanding.

The pilot project for mechanical unexploded sub-munitions clearance will be conducted in Xieng Khuang province from January to May.
The Komatsu Company from Japan has provided a vehicle for UXO clearance activities under the project worth about US$1 million through the JMAS.

Last Friday, the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and JMAS sig ned a memorandum of understanding on US$100,000 worth of funding for the pilot project. Komatsu is also providing funding support for the pilot project.

NRA Director Mr Phoukhiew Chanthasomboun said that many countries use unmanned vehicles in UXO clearance activities, but mostly for mines rather than sub-munitions.

While some countries do use vehicles to clear sub-munitions, there is no reliable data on exactly how effective vehicles are at clearing sub-munitions, he noted.

“We are not sure if vehicles will be effective for UXO clearance in Laos, but the pilot project will provide us with a better idea,” he said.

The Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Pro-gramme (UXO Lao) typically uses 9 to 11 people to clear UXO from one hectare, a process that takes almost two months. UXO Lao also spends between US$1,800 and US$2,500 to clear a hectare of land, depending on the degree of contamination.

According to the NRA, the JMAS began unexploded ordnance clearance activities in Xieng Khuang province in 2006.

The JMAS aims to implement its project activities in cooperation with the government's UXO Lao programme, helping the people of the province to enjoy a safe and peaceful life in a developing environment.
The technical support provided by the organisation helps to build a future for UXO-affected communities by reducing the number of accident victims so that the province can embark on a successful path to development.
Xieng Khuang is one of the most highly UXO-contaminated areas in Laos. Every year more than 50 people are killed or injured by bombs buried in the ground. About 40 percent are children.

However, in Laos the number of UXO casualties is expected to have fallen from over 300 in 2008 to less than 75 a year by 2015. The number of casualties before 2008 is estimated to have averaged 304 per year, while in 2009 and 2010 the figure was less than 117 per year and is estimated to be 87 this year.

Altogether, 98 of the country's 143 districts are contaminated with UXO. Furthermore, 41 of the 45 poorest districts are heavily contaminated, which is hampering development in these areas.

By 2015, Laos aims to clear 12,500 hectares of contaminated land, of which more than 11,800 hectares will be used for agriculture and the other 600 hectares for other forms of development.

More than 28,000 hectares of UXO-contaminated land have been cleared since 1996. By 2020 the country aims to have cleared UXO from 200,000 hectares of land.

It is estimated that out of the 2 million tonnes of bombs, including 288 million cluster bombs, that were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973, about 30 percent did not detonate.

During this time, a total of 580,000 deadly bombing missions were conducted. That averages out at one bombing mission every eight minutes around the clock for nine years.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update November 08, 2011)