Words and photo by Sean Sutton.
It is break time at Thamxay primary school and the playground is filled with over 500 children running around and laughing. But just a couple of months before, playing games here could have had lethal consequences.
“We were so lucky that there were no accidents,” says Tong Kou, the school’s headmaster. “At least five times a year children found bombs in the playground, but what could we do? We couldn’t keep them in the classroom all day – they need to run around and get some fresh air.
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| Children at Thanxay primary school, where a MAG team found hundreds of bomblets |
“Then, with help from MAG, we taught the children not to touch any bombs they found and to report them to a teacher. After that MAG came and destroyed the UXO (unexploded ordnance).”
It took four months for a MAG team to clear the area in and around the school. The team found 160 items of UXO, about 80% of which were cluster bomb submunitions known locally as 'bombies'.
“I couldn’t believe how many bombies MAG found here,” adds Tong. “Many were just below the surface, and they were scattered all over the playground. We were all in such danger before.”
An area for a school garden was also cleared, so that the children can grow vegetables, fruit trees and flowers.
Related links:
PHOTO GALLERY - Laos: Danger UXO
MAG in Laos
Community Liaison: the 'eyes and ears' of MAG's approach
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