MAG was delighted to welcome on May 28 the UK’s Minister for the Indo Pacific and Equalities, Seema Malhotra, to its Visitor Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where she met with staff and saw first-hand the ongoing effort to address the risks posed by explosive remnants of war.
During the visit, the UK Government announced new funding worth 1.2 million USD to support the clearance of unexploded ordnance and risk education in Khammouane province, in partnership with MAG and the Lao PDR Government.
This funding will enable MAG teams to clear more than 500,000 square metres of land contaminated by cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance, as well as deliver risk education activities to over 2,000 people from affected communities.
Laos remains the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita, where millions of unexploded bombs and cluster munitions contaminate land more than 50 years after the end of the conflict. These items continue to kill and injure civilians, as well as hinder economic development and contribute to poverty in Laos.
The Minister’s visit provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of sustained international support for clearance efforts and the progress made through the long-standing partnership between the MAG, and the UK and Lao governments.
Eli Mechanic, MAG Country Director in Laos, said: "We are grateful for the UK's continued commitment to helping communities affected by unexploded ordnance in Laos. Though substantial progress has been made over the past decades, the threat that these weapons pose remains a daily reality for many people. With the UK's renewed support, we can continue clearing hazardous land, helping communities make safe use of it for their future.”
MAG has been working in Laos since 1994, clearing land from unexploded ordnance and delivering risk education sessions to help keep communities safe. The UK has been a longstanding supporter of this work both in Laos and in other post-conflict contexts around the world.
