02/05/14

The legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos

By: Paola Di Bella

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<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>The legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos</h1>
<h4>By: Paola Di Bella</h4>
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<div id="article-body">
<div class="article-img-gallery" id="image-gallery"><div class="owl-carousel"><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='More than 260 million bomblets were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='More than 260 million bomblets were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='More than 260 million bomblets were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War
'></noscript></noscript><p>More than 260 million bomblets were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/05uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Nearly a third of the bomblets dropped on Laos failed to detonate
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/05uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Nearly a third of the bomblets dropped on Laos failed to detonate
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/05uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Nearly a third of the bomblets dropped on Laos failed to detonate
'></noscript></noscript><p>Nearly a third of the bomblets dropped on Laos failed to detonate</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/03uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='This Lao boy lost both his hands in an accidental bomblet explosion
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/03uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='This Lao boy lost both his hands in an accidental bomblet explosion
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/03uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='This Lao boy lost both his hands in an accidental bomblet explosion
'></noscript></noscript><p>This Lao boy lost both his hands in an accidental bomblet explosion</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/06uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='A bomblet. A quarter of all Lao villages contain unexploded ordnance
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/06uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='A bomblet. A quarter of all Lao villages contain unexploded ordnance
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/06uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='A bomblet. A quarter of all Lao villages contain unexploded ordnance
'></noscript></noscript><p>A bomblet. A quarter of all Lao villages contain unexploded ordnance</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Over the past decade, there have been around 300 new casualties a year
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Over the past decade, there have been around 300 new casualties a year
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Over the past decade, there have been around 300 new casualties a year
'></noscript></noscript><p>Over the past decade, there have been around 300 new casualties a year</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/02uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Various prostheses are available for those injured by unexploded ordnance 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/02uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Various prostheses are available for those injured by unexploded ordnance 
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/02uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Various prostheses are available for those injured by unexploded ordnance 
'></noscript></noscript><p>Various prostheses are available for those injured by unexploded ordnance </p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/10uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Around 40 per cent of casualties are children
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/10uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Around 40 per cent of casualties are children
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/10uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Around 40 per cent of casualties are children
'></noscript></noscript><p>Around 40 per cent of casualties are children</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/04uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='COPE now uses durable polypropylene to make prostheses in its workshops
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/04uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='COPE now uses durable polypropylene to make prostheses in its workshops
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/04uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='COPE now uses durable polypropylene to make prostheses in its workshops
'></noscript></noscript><p>COPE now uses durable polypropylene to make prostheses in its workshops</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/08uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Cluster bomb casings are often used to make objects such as cups and bowls
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/08uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Cluster bomb casings are often used to make objects such as cups and bowls
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/08uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='Cluster bomb casings are often used to make objects such as cups and bowls
'></noscript></noscript><p>Cluster bomb casings are often used to make objects such as cups and bowls</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div><div><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/07uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='The main area of the permanent exhibition of the COPE visitor centre
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img data-src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/07uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='The main area of the permanent exhibition of the COPE visitor centre
' src='data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==' class='lazyload'><noscript><img src='https://www.scidev.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/07uxo_fileminimizer_.jpg' alt='The main area of the permanent exhibition of the COPE visitor centre
'></noscript></noscript><p>The main area of the permanent exhibition of the COPE visitor centre</p>
<p><em>Paola Di Bella</em></p></div></div></div>
<p>Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. According to the Lao government, the United States dropped 260 million submunitions from cluster bombs on the country between 1964 and 1973, in an attempt to disrupt the transport of troops and supplies during the war mainly being fought in neighbouring Vietnam. Thirty per cent of these bomblets failed to explode. More than 50,000 people were killed or injured in accidents involving unexploded ordnance from 1964 to 2008, with 20,000 of those being since the war ended in 1974.<br />
 <br />
The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) is a local, non-profit organisation that helps rehabilitate survivors and other people with disabilities across Laos. Its visitor centre in the country’s capital, Vientiane, hosts a permanent exhibition that examines the legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos and the work undertaken to help those injured by it.  </p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/multimedia/unexploded-ordnance-laos/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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More than 260 million bomblets were dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War

Paola Di Bella

Nearly a third of the bomblets dropped on Laos failed to detonate

Paola Di Bella

This Lao boy lost both his hands in an accidental bomblet explosion

Paola Di Bella

A bomblet. A quarter of all Lao villages contain unexploded ordnance

Paola Di Bella

Over the past decade, there have been around 300 new casualties a year

Paola Di Bella

Various prostheses are available for those injured by unexploded ordnance

Paola Di Bella

Around 40 per cent of casualties are children

Paola Di Bella

COPE now uses durable polypropylene to make prostheses in its workshops

Paola Di Bella

Cluster bomb casings are often used to make objects such as cups and bowls

Paola Di Bella

The main area of the permanent exhibition of the COPE visitor centre

Paola Di Bella

Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. According to the Lao government, the United States dropped 260 million submunitions from cluster bombs on the country between 1964 and 1973, in an attempt to disrupt the transport of troops and supplies during the war mainly being fought in neighbouring Vietnam. Thirty per cent of these bomblets failed to explode. More than 50,000 people were killed or injured in accidents involving unexploded ordnance from 1964 to 2008, with 20,000 of those being since the war ended in 1974.

The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) is a local, non-profit organisation that helps rehabilitate survivors and other people with disabilities across Laos. Its visitor centre in the country’s capital, Vientiane, hosts a permanent exhibition that examines the legacy of unexploded ordnance in Laos and the work undertaken to help those injured by it.