Vientiane Province – The Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme successfully concluded its 2024 Semi-Annual Review and Work Planning Meeting for the second half of 2024 in Thalath Village, Keooudom District.

The meeting was officially held from 24 July to July 26, 2024, chaired by Mr. Anousak Phongsa, National Programme Director of UXO Lao. Representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action (NRA)-Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), UXO Lao headquarters and nine UXO Lao provincial offices, Tetra Tech and United Nations Development Programme in Laos (UNDP) were attended.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the implementation of activities from the first six months of 2024, and to plan for the second half of the year. During the meeting, UXO Lao HQ reported on the achievements of all works and outlined the activities planned for six months. Discussions also covered technical work, highlighting strengths, weakness, challenges and lessons learned to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of UXO Lao works to achieve the targets.

Deputy Minister of MoLSW, Mr. Padeumphone Sonthany emphasized the importance of prioritizing survey and clearance and collaborating with provincial Labour and Social Welfare Departments, and local authorities to gather data for developing work plan that aligns with district and provincial socio-economic development plans for inclusion in UXO Lao Annual Work Plan. He also stressed on the need for mobilizing funds from domestic and international donors and called for active implementation of UXO Lao’s activities to achieve current annual work plan targets and the targets for 2026-2030 to be set out in the national socio-economic development plan of the Government of Laos.

UXO Lao is deeply grateful to Tetra Tech for their support in organizing the meeting.