17/01/2023 Laos
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law e enforcement agency for assistance”.
Of the over two million tons of bombs dropped by the United States on the Lao people between 1964 and 1973, an estimated 30% failed to detonate. In the ensuing decades, these unexploded ordnances (UXO) have been responsible for the deaths of another 20,000 Lao people—almost half of them children. From 2004 to 2005, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), in cooperation with the governments of Laos and New Zealand, painstakingly swept the areas of Sites 1, 2, and 3 for unexploded U.S. bombs. In 2007, four more Sites were swept. Exploring the less commonly visited areas of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, travelers are warned to be careful where they step—only 1% of total UXO left behind by the United States in Laos have been cleared. Phonsavan, the current capital of Xiengkhouang Province, is a young city. Roughly 20 minutes south of the modern city sits Khoune District. In many ways, Khoune District appears not dissimilar to other modern villages and developing areas in the country; with its large Development Bank of Laos building taking center-stage in the market area, one might even think Khoune is an up-and-coming young area just like Phonsavan. Mr. Ken, a local guide, was born in Khoune District in 1984. He recounts that, in his youth, no more than a handful of wooden buildings existed in the area; the area was left so devastated and underdeveloped following the war that he had to leave Khoune in order to go to school, only to return later after he had graduated.
Photo-Source: peoplesworld.org
Biography of a Bomb
Dear editors, Biography of a bomb is aimed at highlighting the danger caused by unexploded bombs. Moreover, the most important aspect is that we work completely non profit, raising awerness about this topic is what drives us. We apologize if we make use of pictures in yours articles, but we need them to put a context in how findings are done. We will (and we always do) cite source and author of the picture. We thank you for your comprehension
