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Map of unexploded ordnance distribution in Laos
Map of unexploded ordnance distribution in Laos.

World Education Laos provides capacity building and advisory services at the national, provincial/district and village levels. The current program focuses on the needs of rural communities living with the contamination of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines remaining from the Vietnam War.

World Education is currently implementing six projects in cooperation with the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education.

Background on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Laos

Between 1964 and 1973, during the height of the Vietnam War, more than two million tons of bombs were dropped in Laos. Up to a third of the bombs, or ordnance, discharged in or over the country did not explode and continue to maim and kill when disturbed. Approximately 25% of all communities in Laos PDR are contaminated with this unexploded ordnance, or UXO. Hundreds of people are injured and killed in UXO accidents each year in Laos, and survivors often suffer severe abdominal, chest, hand and arm, and head injuries, which all require extensive surgery and post-operative care. About half of all UXO victims are children, who find the ball-shaped “bombies” while playing near their homes in rural communities. Between 1973 and 2007, at least 13,000 people were maimed or killed by landmines or UXO in Laos.

Photo of Mr. Maisee
From 1999 to 2007, World Education's projects in the silk sector trained farmers such as Mr. Maisee to grow mulberries in order to raise silk worms (pictured here), thereby increasing their incomes through the selling of high quality raw silk.

World Education is currently implementing six projects in cooperation with the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education.