A senior Lao official has warned that an estimated 80 million unexploded munitions remain buried across Laos, while cuts in international funding could slow clearance work and prolong the threat to civilian lives.
The National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action official Bounpheng Sisavath said more than a million of the deadly remnants had been cleared after decades of efforts to rid Laos of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
“You could say there is still a great deal remaining. Some items are on the surface, while others are buried as deep as five to six metres underground. This makes clearance difficult and requires trained teams and specialised methods, Bounpheng told the Vientiane Times in an interview..
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Source: The Star News
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