Working Through the Challenges during the Rainy Season in Southern Laos

“Beyond the rain, we also face other challenges, such as fallen branches and logs of different sizes on the site. When it rains, water can collect in holes, and when we detect a signal with a metal detector, we can’t dig because it’s not clearly visible. This makes clearance work difficult,” said Ms. Phoukham Duangmalalai, Deputy Team Leader in Attapeu Province.

It rains almost every day in Attapeu Province, southern Laos, slowing the pace of clearance. Despite these challenges, NPA teams continue to navigate difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions to carry out their important work in Vonglakhone Village, one of the largest villages in Attapeu.

Vonglakhone has 69 contaminated task sites identified for clearance by NPA. Since 3 August, 10 NPA teams have been deployed in the village. To date, the teams safely located and destroyed 241 cluster munition remnants.

In 2026, NPA teams found and made safe 499 cluster munition remnants and 11 other unexploded ordnance items (UXOs), clearing more than 1,3 million square meters of land, benefiting almost 300 people in this village alone.