A total of 2.9 million euros (about 36 billion kip) from government and non-government agencies from Germany through the Solidarity Service International Programme will help to reduce unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents in Borikhamxay province.
The programme focused on two target villages, Kounchanh and Nadeua in Khamkeuth district, said Programme Manager Siegfried Block.
He said these villages were the starting points in a mission to clear UXO, improve basic village infrastructure including piped water and new school buildings, and improve public health to provide better living conditions and opportunities.
The programme will also provide UXO education to children and people living in risk areas.
Mr Block said it would run for five years until 2014 with cooperation from the Lao government and other organisations concerned.
He said the programme had set up three teams to clear and destroy UXO, one team each from Kounchanh and Nadeua villages and a mobile team to destroy bombs in target and neighbouring villages.
One month ago clearance teams were able to find and destroy UXO in three places in Kounchanh and Nadeua villages, two of which were in schools, he said.
About 29,300 square metres of agricultural land in Nadeua village and a stone product factory in Kounchanh village have been cleared of 650 cluster sub-munitions, which were destroyed immediately.
The mobile team also found 568 bombs in target areas and neighbouring villages, bringing the one month total to more than 1,200 bombs destroyed by the three teams.
Khammuan is one of many provinces affected by UXO left from the Indochina War, and many people have been killed and become disabled as a direct result, according to provincial governor Mr Thong-on Khamphouban.
UXO has also obstructed agriculture, especially rice plantations, and other crops including sweetcorn, beans and melon, thus limiting the livelihood of local people.
By Khamphone Syvongxay
December 01, 2009
Vientiane Times
