The Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Impact
UXO is an identified cause of poverty. The National Social-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) in 2003 states that there appears to be a significant correlation between the presence of UXO and the prevalence of poverty. Some of the most UXO contaminated communities are also among the poorest in the country. Its presence causes food shortages in affected provinces as it limits agricultural production expansion and villagers’ ability to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Many of the poor and vulnerable groups in remote rural communities face the dilemma of risking life and limb in tampering with UXO, or continuing living in impoverished conditions. Any kind of development program taking place in UXO affected areas (road building, school construction, or tourism development) are at risk from UXO and require substantial extra resources for UXO clearance.
UXO clearance contributes to the Lao Government’s poverty eradication program, the Government’s aim of exitting the least developped country status by 2020, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.