MAG marks 30 years of life-saving work in Laos

This month, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) - a humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding organisation – is marking its 30th anniversary of operations in Laos. 
Since 1994, MAG has worked with communities and authorities across Khammuan and Xieng Khuang provinces to find, remove, and destroy hundreds of thousands of bombs leftover from the war.

One of MAG Laos’ first clearance teams formed in 1994 in collaboration with the Mennonite Central Committee and the Lao government.     --Photo MAG

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. From 1964 to 1973, more than two million tons of explosive ordnance were dropped on the country.
The scale of the bombing is the equivalent of a planeload of bombs being dropped every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years.
This included 270 million cluster submunitions, of which an estimated 30 percent failed to detonate on impact, meaning they remain live, contaminating the land, for decades.
MAG currently employs over 1,200 staff in Laos, many of whom are from communities heavily impacted by the conflict and the subsequent contamination.
Over the last 30 years, MAG’s impact has been transformative, benefitting nearly 1.2 million people by: Clearing over 136 square kilometres of land. Responding to over 37,000 callouts from people reporting dangerous items.
Finding and destroying over 340,000 items of unexploded ordnance. Delivering over 4,500 risk education sessions with guidance on how to recognise, avoid, and report threats, reaching more than 153,000 people living in contaminated areas.
MAG Laos Country Director, Mr Eli Mechanic, said “As we celebrate 30 years of MAG’s work in Laos, we are honouring the remarkable dedication of our staff members who have worked hand-in-hand with communities to ensure land can be returned safely to them.
Their hard work and commitment to making their communities safer have transformed countless lives. This anniversary is a testament to their efforts and the resilience of the people we serve.”
With approximately 2,000 square kilometres of confirmed hazardous areas still requiring clearance, it is paramount that support for unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey and clearance in Laos continues and people can live and use their land without fear of deadly accidents.

MAG clearance team members use a large-loop detector to search for unexploded bombs on farmland in Xieng Khuang province.        --Photo MAG/Bart Verweij

One of MAG’s all female demining teams heads back to camp.      --Photo MAG/Simon Cote

US Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Ms Heather Variava, said “For over 30 years, the United States has provided more than US$400 million towards UXO clearance efforts and support for victims. We are currently supporting over 200 clearance teams, which have cleared more land this year than in any previous year.”
“We are making progress, but we know we need to do more, and we are committed to working with partners like MAG to ensure Laos meets its goal of removing UXO as a barrier to national development.”
The majority of land cleared by MAG of cluster munitions and other UXO is agricultural land. Humanitarian mine action can and does have an incredible impact on agriculture, development initiatives and food security, with reverberating positive effects on communities previously restricted by the presence of ordnance.
UK Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Ms Mel Barlow, said “The UK Government is one of the largest bilateral donors supporting UXO clearance work in Laos.”
“We are proud to support MAG and to celebrate their 30-year commitment to life-saving work in Laos. I was privileged to visit their work in Xieng Khuang and learn how this is reducing injuries and returning land to communities, directly contributing to the development of Laos.”
As MAG commemorates this significant milestone, the organisation remains steadfast in its commitment to working with the Lao government, development partners, and conflict-affected communities until the country is free from the threat of unexploded ordnance.
This commitment, along with robust international support and community engagement, is essential in paving the way for a safer and more prosperous future for Laos.
MAG is grateful for the committed and supportive donors who make this vital work possible. MAG would like to sincerely thank our long-term government partners, the Government of the United States, the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Be Good Foundation, Restoration Laos, No More UXO, and Article 22 for their invaluable support.
MAG would also like to thank our Lao government and national operating partners; the National Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UXO Lao, for their ongoing support and collaboration.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update November 26, 2024)