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Children in Laos Vulnerable to Unexploded Bombs

Children in Laos Vulnerable to Unexploded Bombs

Forty years since the end of the Vietnam War, unexploded bombs are still causing harm in Laos. 


Laos is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world, with millions of bombs left in the ground. 


It still registers 300 new casualties each year from unexploded bombs, a third of whom are children. 


Sen Lam from Radio Australia interviewed Nigel Spence, CEO of ChildFund Australia.


“The unexploded bombs are having a terrible effect and a long lasting effect on children and families and communities in Laos.”


“We're nearly about 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War, but there are literally millions of unexploded bombs scattered around communities and these are causing fatalities and injuries. There's been approximately 20-thousand people killed who've been injured or killed by unexploded bombs in the last 40 years, around 300 new casualties each year. And nearly half of these casualties are children. So there's a terrible toll in terms of loss of life, disability, but there's also some very negative effects, because the bombs are preventing the use of land for agriculture, for housing, for livelihoods, for schools, for play areas.”


“So the fact that there's so many unexploded munitions in and around the districts is preventing much needed use of the land area.”


Q. And are children particularly vulnerable to these unexploded ordnances?


“Children are most definitely the most vulnerable. Children are often needing to go into the bush, to fetch water, to forage for food, to get firewood. Children often travel across country for to access school or health services or other facilities and while they're involved in these activities, there's a real chance that they will encounter unexploded munitions in the soil. 


"Unfortunately, some children still are attracted to them. They see them as play things. Some of the youth will still attempt to retrieve these items to cash in for scrap metal, and, of course, on these occasions, there can be terrible consequences if the bombs explode.”


Q. So even 40 years after the war, there's still a bit of ignorance about the dangers of unexploded mines?


“Yes, there is still a level of ignorance. There's been quite a bit of effort put into education of children and community members about these dangers.


"Agencies like ChildFund, other NGOs, the Laos government has made an effort to educate communities, but still there's a level of ignorance and there's a level of risk that some children and some youth and some family members will engage in, often because they just have to. If they're to have adequate farming and income for their, to support themselves, they're often forced to take risks.”


Q. ChildFund, I understand, is embarking on an appeal. Can you tell us what you're trying to achieve here?


“Yes, ChildFund has already been involved with clearing land from munitions in order for agriculture and schools. We want to go further with this. We want to clear a much larger area of land to allow families opportunity to access the land for agriculture, for schools, for play areas. So our appeal is aimed at raising funds to undertake what is often quite painstaking careful work to clear the land of these unexploded bombs.”


“Actually it allows Australians and invites Australians to get involved with this cause. It's possible to go on the web site to identify areas which are affected by bombs and to make donations to allow clearance of varying sizes and areas of land.”



  • Laos
  • children
  • land mine
  • safety
  • Radio Australia

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