Laos remains haunted by the legacy of the Vietnam War, as over 2 million tons of explosive ordnance were dropped on the country between 1964 and 1973. This makes Laos the most heavily bombed country in the world on a per capita basis. Thong Phet, a former novice monk, shares his harrowing experience of losing an arm due to an unexploded device while working in his pasture near Ban Napia.
Continued Threat of Unexploded Ordnance
In Laos, the threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) lingers decades after the conflict ended. Phet recalls, "I remember the bombs being dropped very well. I remember seeing aircraft coming and hiding in caves near here with my parents when I was a boy." The most feared relics are cluster bombs, which can scatter hundreds of dangerous bomblets across vast areas.
Approximately 270 million bomblets, locally known as "bombies," were released, with an estimated 30% failing to detonate. These remnants pose a significant risk to local communities, impacting agriculture and safety. A dedicated team from the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Program is currently working to clear these hazardous areas.
Efforts to Clear Cluster Bombs
The demining teams utilize various detection methods to locate UXOs, marking dangerous areas with red tape and placing warning signs. Each identified target is carefully excavated and surrounded by safety measures. In just one week, a seven-member team safely removed 19 bombies and five large-caliber bullets from over 10,000 square meters of farmland.
