Lao and South Korean officials last week attend a ceremony in Vientiane to hand over Korean-funded equipment for use in UXO clearance.

S. Korean provides equipment worth US$1 million for UXO clearance

The Government of the Republic of Korea last week donated equipment worth over US$1 million for use by 13 newly established humanitarian demining teams under the supervision of the Lao People’s Army (Unit 58).
The donated items, which include 20 vehicles, 10 off-road motorbikes, metal detectors, generators, brush cutters, laptops and other IT equipment, will bolster Unit 58’s operations around unexploded ordnance (UXO) until 2026 and beyond.
To ensure that the important work of UXO clearance can continue, the South Korean government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is providing support for the national ownership of the Lao UXO sector through assistance to both the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and Unit 58, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Unit 58 plays a crucial role in clearance operations in four provinces as well as conducting roving tasks in areas where no other operators exist. Clearance initiatives combined with explosive ordnance risk education have demonstrably contributed to reducing the threat of UXO-related accidents.  
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, who is Deputy Chairman of the NRA, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the support from the government of the Republic of Korea in helping to tackle the problem of unexploded ordnance, which contaminates large swathes of Laos, saying it is an important contribution to the country’s socio-economic development.
At the same time, he said, it is another step on the road to achieving Laos’ 18th Sustainable Development Goal, “Lives Safe from UXO”.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Jung Yung Soo, said “We have provided assistance in almost all areas related to UXO, including awareness education, UXO elimination, UXO Lao capacity building, and victim assistance. Our support has remained unchanged.”
The army’ Unit 58 operates in Vientiane and the provinces of Borikhamxay, Xaysomboun and Vientiane to remove potentially explosive devices uncovered by local residents.
From 2016-2023, the unit has also carried out UXO hazard risk education campaigns in 222 villages.
A survey found that 251.58 hectares of land contained munitions. Of this area, ordnance was removed from 215.76 hectares, with 9,202 devices being detonated, including 2,392 cluster bombs.

By Times Reporters​
 (Latest Update March 4, 2024)