Mine clearance protects civilians and supports development

Humanity and Inclusion’s teams are clearing land in north-eastern Laos contaminated by cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO).

HI mine clearance operation in Laos | © HI

Humanity & Inclusion teams are carrying out mine clearance operations to protect civilians and support development in the Houamouang district of Houaphan province in north-eastern Laos.

Submunitions - small bombs carried in a hollow shell that breaks open in mid-air, saturating the area below - pose the greatest threat to local lives. Thousands of these bombs were dropped over Houamouang. Thirty percent did not explode on impact and remain dangerous to this day.

HI from Laos

In this video, Soksai Sengvongkham, HI's Deputy Humanitarian Mine Action Co-ordinator in Laos, reports on the progress of our teams in clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) and sends a message of thanks to all our generous donors around the world.

Date published: 03/06/19

Please donate: help make Laos cluster-bomb free

Ground survey

Before they launch a mine clearance operation, HI’s team surveys the potentially hazardous area. To assess the level of danger and type of explosive devices, they look for signs of contamination such as craters, topographical abnormalities or unusual vegetation, and identify other evidence of bombing, including accidents.

Memories: a valuable local resource

Local people can be a valuable source of information. They may recall army movements or past accidents. They also know the land - often agricultural - no one dares farm.

By clearing mines, HI helps restore economic and social activity, and prioritises land for farming or infrastructure projects to assist village development.

"In many cases, contamination by explosive remnants - submunitions in Laos - is a brake on regional development. Contamination isolates whole areas. Farmland lies fallow and schools go unbuilt.

Mine clearance assists development.”

Julien Kempeneers, HI Mine Action Coordinator in Laos.

Challenging working conditions

Remote and isolated, contaminated land is difficult for HI’s 32 mine clearance experts to reach. They often need to drive or hike through vegetation for hours. In Houaphan, the weather is cold and landslides common. As well as snakes and insects, some regions are affected by epidemics of malaria or dengue fever.

Since the start of operations, HI has cleared 110,000 square metres of land, the equivalent of 17 football fields, and destroyed 815 devices, including 327 bombs.