NPA in Laos

Laos is the World’s most UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) contaminated land in the World. During a nine years period of the Indochina war, from 1964 to 1973, American planes dropped over two million tons of bombs in Lao PDR.  Up to 30% are estimated not to have detonated on impact and remain scattered throughout the country, hampering access to land and resources and infrastructure development. Since the end of conflict local people have exploited the commercial and practical value of war remnants.  Empty aircraft bombs are recycled for use as house posts, boats, and rice stores, among other things, and a thriving scrap metal trade has resulted in scrap metal collection becoming a key activity for household income generation among rural populations. Efforts to extract economic value from metal have often led to people taking risks with unexploded ordnance, sometimes with tragic consequences.

NPA has been working in Lao PDR since 1997 in the UXO sector providing technical assistance to UXO Lao, the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme. The programme is funded by the USA Department of State.