It’s a common problem in Laos: a farmer is unable to grow enough rice to feed his family because land is contaminated with unexploded ordnance; so he earns money by collecting scrap metal, an activity which itself is fraught with danger.
Thanks to funding from the European Commission, MAG is helping families in Khammouane Province escape this deadly predicament, with Community Liaison playing a central role.
"My family could only grow enough rice to eat for eight months of the year," recalls Mr Xiengnyon, a farmer from Phanop village in Khammouane Province.
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What MAG found when clearing the land for Mr Xiengnyon’s (pictured) new field: • 16 cluster bomb submunitions (known as ‘bombies’ in Lao)• 54 bullets |
Instead, to feed his five children, Mr Xiengnyon collected scrap metal, which he then sold in order to buy rice. Collecting scrap leftover from the conflicts of the late 1960s/early 1970s is one of the few ways to earn an income in this part of Khammouane. And it has become a common cause of UXO accidents.
So when MAG came to clear UXO in this village, Mr Xiengnyong’s family was one of several prioritised by the community through the Community Liaison (CL) process.
Almost 15% of MAG Lao’s field staff are members of CL teams, dedicated to ensuring that communities are consulted and involved throughout the UXO clearance process.
One of the main jobs of these teams is to help communities select and prioritise land for clearance. Several criteria are used, including the need to assist the poorest families first, the planned use of the land and the extent and impact of UXO contamination.
When MAG cleared the land for Mr Xiengnyon’s new field, 16 cluster bomb submunitions (or ‘bombies’ as they are known in Lao) and 54 bullets were found.
In 2007, Mr Xiengnyon’s family grew enough rice to last 12 months – for the first time ever. So far, he has only planted rice on half of the land; he hopes to produce a surplus in 2008 that he can sell.
“I hope that MAG can continue to help those remaining families whose land in still contaminated,” he says.
Case study by Phaiphanom Malavong
Links:
» More on MAG's work in Laos
» More on scrap metal collecting in Laos: High risk trade
» More on scrap metal collecting in Laos: All that glitters is not gold
» Community Liaison explained
15 January 08
Project: ‘Humanitarian UXO clearance in Khammouane Province’, funded by the European Commission
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