I personally did not know much about South East Asia history before I travelled here but today I have learned something new.
I had vaguely read in the guidebook a note that advised not to go off the beaten track too much in Laos as there are many UXO (unexploded ordnances) left behind during the war.
What war? A secret one.
Laos declared its neutrality during the Vietnam war, signing the Geneva convention but the US want to get rid of all the "commies".
For nine years, from 1964 to 1973, the US was responsible for more than 2 million tons of cluster bombs droppings, making Laos the most bombed country in the world pro capita. These bombs killed civilians in 98% of the cases and are still killing people today.
A cluster bomb is a bigger missile that contains more than 700 smaller bombs, called bombies. When being dropped from the plane, the missile opens, the bombies catch speed and blow up when hitting the ground. Except in Laos many of them did not blow up.
Forty years later, in a country that heavily relies on farming, these bombies can be found in all the provinces. Killing children playing in the fields, farmers out working, mothers cooking (the heat " wakes up" the bombies) and generally damaging the Lao communities.
For nine years, from 1964 to 1973, the US was responsible for more than 2 million tons of cluster bombs droppings, making Laos the most bombed country in the world pro capita. These bombs killed civilians in 98% of the cases and are still killing people today.
A cluster bomb is a bigger missile that contains more than 700 smaller bombs, called bombies. When being dropped from the plane, the missile opens, the bombies catch speed and blow up when hitting the ground. Except in Laos many of them did not blow up.
Forty years later, in a country that heavily relies on farming, these bombies can be found in all the provinces. Killing children playing in the fields, farmers out working, mothers cooking (the heat " wakes up" the bombies) and generally damaging the Lao communities.
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| The red dots are the bombed areas |
As sad as this situation is, there is a beacon of hope. Today we visited the COPE centre (Cooperative Orthotic Prosthetic Enterprise) Where people are made aware of this situation, money is raised, amputees who are UXO survivors can receive assistance, physiotherapy and artificial limbs.
The locals have sadly learned to live with UXO's: they were being used around the house, turned into tools and knives. Once the tourists started to arrived, the local communities have started making spoons and bracelets out of bomb materials and the money goes back to the people to lift them out of poverty.
When it comes to the UXO's, the UN and some Western charities have trained local groups so they can keep on detonating these bombs making Laos a safer country where the parents won't be scared to let their children play out in its beautiful countryside anymore.
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