Mine clearance in Laos

Laos continues to be plagued by the remains of what is known as “the secret war”. During the war in neighbouring Vietnam, American bombers also dropped millions of tons of bombs over Laos from 1966 to 1975. Many bombs did not explode as they should. Both large bombs up to 250 kilos and smaller grenades lay scattered throughout the country after the war, still concealing their explosive contents. And many still lie there now. The biggest problem is cluster bombs, as there are estimated to be up to 80 million of them still hidden in one of the world’s poorest countries.

DanChurchAid educates both monks and school teachers by spreading knowledge about unexploded bombs in two of Laos’ poor provinces. People know about the unexploded bombs, especially in the poorest regions of Laos, but typically do not know how to avoid detonating them. The monks act as messengers when visiting local schools and teaching the students how to do this. The direct recipients of the risk information are:

• 40 Buddhist monks
• 40 school teachers
• 150 high school students
• 4,500 school students
• 6 government officials in the districts

A total of 70,000 people benefit directly and indirectly from this support.