Clearing Unexploded Ordinances in Laos: How It Started
In August 2019, GISHers heard the stories of Khiew, Pone, and Kayeng, children affected by dormant bombs scattered across the countryside in Laos. These children were innocent victims of a tragedy stemming back decades in the past. During the Vietnam War, hundreds of millions of bombs fell on Laos, but an estimation of 30% of them did not explode. Instead, they buried themselves in the landscape, where they are still being discovered decades later. Some of these landmines are even horrifically mistaken for toys. Across Laos, thousands of children sustain injuries or die from detonating devices. Over 20,000 people (including 8,000 children) have experienced injuries or lost their lives from unexploded bombs since the Vietnam War ended.
Random Acts, the Legacy of War Foundation, and GISH teamed up to change the lives of the children of Laos. Together, they raised $242,000 USD. These funds were used in two critical ways: defusing unexploded ordinances (UXOs) and providing prosthetics for Laotians affected by landmines. Donations also allowed for a prosthetic specialist to be brought to Laos. This specialist ensured that children and adults were adequately fitted for personalized prosthetic limbs, which provided the recipients with a boost in confidence, mobility, and hope.
How It’s Going:
- According to a Legacy of War Foundation contact, the team clears over 150 UXO monthly in the Khammouane province. By doing so, 700 Laotian people can safely take back their homes.
- Explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) programs inform villagers about what steps should be taken when a landmine is found, as well as what happens once a bomb goes off.
- In 2021, a Community Liaison Supervisor and four Community Liaison Officers were recruited to help with clearing unexploded ordinances.
“I kept thinking, why should a child have to go through what I do each day, simply because they were walking to school and were injured by a bomb left over from a war that ended years before they were even born? They are completely innocent, yet they have to bear this terrible burden.”
Giles Duley
