Last week, UXO Lao field operations teams in Savannakhet Province, with support from the United States Government and in collaboration with field operations technical advisors from Tetra Tech and the team from The HALO Trust Laos, successfully destroyed a total of 1,321 items of various types of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remaining from the war at the designated UXO demolition site in Kaeng Koua Village, Phin District, Savannakhet Province.

These items of UXO were identified following reports from local residents and during survey and clearance operations at multiple sites. After undergoing technical inspection and verification by qualified field experts, all items assessed as safe for transport were moved to a designated demolition site, where they were destroyed in accordance with standard operating procedures. This process helps ensure the safety of local communities, as well as their property and livestock.

This demolition operation was made possible through the strong cooperation of local authorities and community members, together with field operations technical advisors from Tetra Tech and the team from The HALO Trust Laos. Their collaborative efforts to safely destroy explosive remnants of war contribute to making communities safer and supporting local development.

UXO Lao and its partners will continue working together to address the challenge of UXO contamination, helping to make the Lao PDR safer, promote sustainable socio-economic development, and support the Government of the Lao PDR’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 18: “Lives Safe from UXO.”