VIENTIANE, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Laos continues its efforts to address the enduring dangers posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO), reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives, promoting safe land use, and advancing international cooperation to create a safer environment for all citizens.
An annual conference on raising awareness of UXO risks in Laos was held on Thursday in central Laos' Bolikhamxay province, attended by Bounpheng Sisawath, director general of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector (NRA) in Laos, representatives from the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, and media professionals from across the country.
The conference reviewed the country's previous awareness campaigns in high-risk communities, shared lessons to improve content, and outlined new strategies, including expanding online outreach and enhancing coordination with local authorities. The meeting also reinforced collaboration to ensure effective communication, helping communities prevent accidents and safeguard lives from UXO hazards.
Laos continues to prioritize UXO clearance, providing ongoing training to strengthen the skills and capabilities of relevant sectors while raising public awareness of UXO risks. At the third-quarter 2025 UXO technical working group meeting in late September, participants reviewed survey and clearance operations, risk education, victim assistance, and national data management, emphasizing the need for stronger coordination among agencies and local authorities to ensure timely and effective UXO resolution.
The Lao government has called for enhanced global cooperation to address UXO and protect rural communities. The call was made by Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anouparb Vongnorkeo while leading a Lao delegation to the 13th meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Switzerland in mid-September.
Anouparb emphasized the need for stronger international collaboration and increased resources to save lives, reaffirming Laos' commitment to fulfilling the goals of the Convention and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 18.
In addition, the government implements several initiatives to support UXO victims, providing medical care, rehabilitation services, and community-based risk education, with a particular focus on children, who remain the most vulnerable.
The Lao government aims to clear 65,000 hectares of land by 2025 to boost agriculture, food security and economic development.
Laos is one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world in terms of per capita. From 1964 to 1973, over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos, of which 30 percent failed to explode.
Over 270 million cluster munitions were dropped from U.S. warplanes, leaving an estimated 80 million live bomblets scattered and buried around the Southeast Asian country. ■