(KPL) The first nationwide meeting to conclude the operation of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) clearance operation in Laos from 1996-2008s, was held at the National Culture Hall, on 5-6 November.
Participants have listened to a conclusion report and action plan of clearing UXOs countrywide, and the implementation of the 2003-13 national strategic of UXOs harvest and the development of 2010-2020 strategic plans and other issues.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Douangchay Phichit, who chaired the first nationwide meeting of UXOs, said that Laos had been attacked seriously by imperialist force, both by their infantry and air forces, during the Indochina war between 1964 and 1973.
Over nine-year period of war, 580,344 flights have dropped more than two million tonnes of bombies on Laos, 10 per cent of which was rated as UXOs. But according to the real survey, it has found that more than 10 per cent (10-30 per cent) was the UXOs, which have been scattered in 14 provinces.
Not only the UXOs but also bullets and different types of mines buried underground, which accounts for one third of 236,800 square kilometres of the total national areas, was identified as affected areas.
Despite the war end, UXOs have further killed and maimed Lao people, and hindered the socio-economic development.
In 1995, the Lao Government authorised a private foreign company called “MAG” (the Mines Advisory Group) to survey the coverage rate of UXOs in the northern Xiengkhouang province.
The survey found that 44 per cent of the UXO victims were children under 15, 35 per cent were farmers, and 55 per cent were deaths.
By the way, the Government asked the UN to establish a special fund for the operation of UXOs clearance since 1996.
The UXOs team has so far cleared UXOs and other bombs out of 195 square kilometres, leaving 87, 000 square kilometres affected with the war legacy countrywide.
Considering the UXOs clearance reached only 0.002 per cent of total affected areas, which cost over US$70 million spending on the clearing mission. The meeting has also looked back over the past 10 years of UXOs clearance mission and sought the way to develop the future operation plan.
KPL Lao News Agency
