U.S. Embassy UXO Program Advisor Visits NPA Field Activities in Southern Laos

NPA Laos recently welcomed Mr. Olivier Bauduin, UXO Program Advisor from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, for a field monitoring visit to U.S. funded operations in Sekong and Attapeu Provinces.

The visit began on 14 July in Vonglakhone Village, Phouvong District, Attapeu Province, where UXO Program Advisor met with NPA’s clearance teams, received a task briefing, and observed the teams at work in a land where local communities are grazing their livestock and collecting bamboo shoots. Although the land has been used for many years, the unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination remains a known risk.

NPA began clearance at this site in early 2026, covering an area of more than 1.2 million square meters. Since then, the team has safely located and destroyed over 600 unexploded bombs, making the land safer for local communities. Once the area has been cleared, local villagers plan for sugarcane cultivation.

NPA 0008 — NPA Deputy Country Director Mrs. Linh Nguyen (left) and Mr. Olivier Bauduin, UXO Program Advisor (right), review ongoing clearance activities on the clearance map.

NPA 0081 — NPA Operations Manager Mr. Magnus Johansson explains clearance procedures while observing the team at work.

NPA 0074 — Ms. Cham uses a handled detector to locate metal signals that may indicate the presence of explosive items during clearance operations.

NPA 0086 — Mr. Bounmy Chansiyavong uses a large loop metal detector to help locate potential explosive items during clearance operations.

NPA 0133 — Participants posed a group photo after the monitoring visit in Attapeu Province.

NPA 0105 — UXO Program Advisor observes the mechanical vegetation cutting tractor that is deployed for ground preparation during clearance operations.

On 15 July, the visit continued in Thateng Neua Village, Theteng District, Sekong Province, where UXO Program Advisor observed both interpersonal and mass digital explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) activities. The EORE team regularly conducts household risk education sessions for both groups and individuals while also broadcasting safety messages through the village speakers.

NPA 0286 — Mr. Olivier Bauduin, UXO Program Advisor from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane poses a group photo with NPA’s Risk Education team in Sekong Province

NPA 0227 — Mr. Sonxay, together with Mr. Bounsavanh and Mr. Monexay from NPA’s Risk Education team in Sekong Province, explains the harmful effects of explosive ordnance to participants and why it is important for them to follow “DON’T” behaviors to stay safe.

20260715 090013 — Mr. Olivier Bauduin, UXO Program Advisor from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, observes a Risk Education session conducted by NPA’s Risk Education team in Vonglakhone Village

NPA 0235 — Risk education is especially important for children, who are often completely unaware of the dangers and attracted to curious shapes and sometime mistaken for a toy or ball.

NPA 0258 — Following the session, participants take part in an interactive quiz to test their understanding. Those who answer correctly receive a small prize.

NPA 0181 — Mr. Monexay, Risk Education Team Leader, works with the village chief to announce safety messages through the village loudspeaker.

NPA 0163 — Mr. Monexay, Risk Education Team Leader, provides a brief risk education work in Sekong Province to Mr. Olivier Bauduin, UXO Program Advisor from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane

NPA 0273 — Participants posed a group photo after the session.

We sincerely thank the Government of the United States for enabling us to deploy for Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) teams, eight survey teams, and 40 clearance teams in Southern Province.

Thathsaphone Keomoungkhoun

04 Aug 2026