1. International Young Scholars Workshop (IYSW), Kyoto University “UXO and Social-Economic Development in Lao PDR“ By Mr. Vilavong SYSAVATH National University of Laos

3. Literature review This paper will present an overview of UXO impact on social development in Lao PDR and its cause of unacceptable harm in the civilians. The literature review then consider UXO is cause of injured and pose a significant barrier to poverty reduction and development and more specifically at the humanitarian mine action sector looking at the main products of UXO action; clearance, and the victim assistance (VA). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Lao PDR (GoL) recognize UXO pollution as cross cutting issue in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

4. When the bombs fell in Lao PDR During the Indochina conflict between 1964 - 1973, Lao was the site of extensive aerial bombings and concentrated ground battles. More than 580,000 bombing missions dropped over two million tons of ordnance on the country making it. Laos is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history. Every year more than 300 people were died and injured by UXO

5. National UXO Impact Map VS. Poverty Map 72 poor districts of which 47 are considered as the poorest ones (of highest priority) Impact MapPoor District Map

6. Snapshot of the UXO Issue in Lao PDR Approximately 25% of villages in Laos are contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over Laos Over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973 Cluster sub-munitions or ‘Bombies’ (as they are known locally) are the most common form of UXO remaining Up to 30% failed to detonate Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained in Laos after the war 14 out of 17 provinces of Laos suffer from UXO contamination There are approximately 300 new casualties each year.

8. BLU 3 BLU 26 BLU 61 BLU18

9. Overview Lao is an under-developed country in which the majority of the population are still living a subsistence farming based lifestyle. in its most fundamental form, the impact of UXO contamination stops food production Today communities cannot access the agricultural land they need and restricts many aspects of commodity development and nation building, as the UXO prolongs the conditions of poverty the government of Lao recognizes this and see UXO clearance as a key development priority The institution such as Work Bank also acknowledge this link and content that GDP growth is retarded significantly by the present of pervasive and permanent UXO problem

10. Planning for the Future…. Lao PDR is likely to see a major expansion in four key industrial sectors – Agriculture & Forest Plantations – Mining – Transportation – Mining and Hydropower Generation

11. Agriculture Sector Plan for Agriculture in 2020 predicts expansion will be constrained by suitable soils, protected areas, steep slopes and future hydropower projects Mining Potential for rapid expansion following recent ending of three year Government moratorium on new mining concessions. Likelihood of future bauxite strip mining in Boloven plateau area requiring hundreds of square kilometers of clearance with associated resettlement and additional demand for new hydropower projects. Transportation Sector Major Economic Corridors being constructed through Savannakhet from Thailand to Vietnam & through Northern Laos up to China with strong support from ADB/World Bank Hydropower Sector “The Battery of South East Asia” “and…”

12. Mining Potential for rapid expansion following recent ending of three year Government moratorium on new mining concessions. Likelihood of future bauxite strip mining in Boloven plateau area requiring hundreds of square kilometers of clearance with associated resettlement and additional demand for new hydropower projects. Transportation Major Economic Corridors being constructed through Savannakhet from Thailand to Vietnam & through Northern Laos up to China with strong support from ADB/World Bank

13. How does UXO hold back Social-Economic Development? The presence of UXO can lead to the following restrictions: Today cluster sub-munitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to kill and injure around 300 people a year. Their presence now impacts on the socio-economic development of the country, preventing access to agricultural land and increasing the costs, through land clearance, of all development projects such as Impact on the agricultural sector Impact on Infrastructure building as: building schools and roads. hydroelectric power, mining operation, forestry and tourisms, etc…

14. According to the National Survey of UXO Victims and Accidents, phase 1, 1964 – 2008. this has yielded detail of : 50,136 casualties recorded. 26 % of all casualties were children 18 years old and below About 60% (30,000) occurred in the decade 1964 to 1973 About 60% of all casualties (30,000) were killed in the accident and 40% (20,000) were injured Effects of the UXO on civilian

16. Devices Causing Accidents: post-conflict

17. UXO accident from 2009 - 2011 Total accident in time: 275 tim es YearInjuredKilledTotal (people) 200911056166 20108037117 2011 (Jan-June)601575

18. Land Released (TS & Clearance) Since 1996 – June 2011 Total 27,133 Ha By 2009 = 4,144 ha, and 2010 = 4,062 ha (both including the commercial clearance)

19. TOTAL UXO DESTROYED Clearance and Roving Operation (01 January 1996 to June 2011) Number of UXO Destroy via TS, Roving & Clearance, total: 1,305,375 items

20. Financial Contributions to the UXO Sector - 2006 to 2010 (excluding commercial companies) (excluding commercial companies) 2007 Funding declined 1.5% from 2006 Levels 2008 Funding declined 22% from 2007 Levels 2010 Funding increase 16% from 2009 Levels

21. 1975 Lao government did clear and destroy UXO by Lao Army for building the houses, public land, agriculture area and other land 1994 Lao government allowed MAG established in Xieng Khouang province. 1995 Lao government, UNDP and UNICEF established Trust Fund UXO Lao 1996 Lao government established UXO Lao – Coordination – Operation in 9 UXO contamination provinces 2004 Lao government adopted National Strategic Plan 2003 – 2013 2006 Lao government established National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR Government has been doing for solving UXO problem

22. The Oslo Process on the Convention on the Cluster Munitions In February 2007, 46 governments met in Oslo to endorse a call by Norwegian Foreign Minister to conclude a new treaty in 2008 that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians and provides adequate resources to assist survivors and clear contaminated areas. In May 2008, the Convention on Cluster Munitions was negotiated and adopted by 107 countries at the Dublin conference. The treaty was first opened for signature on 3 December 2008 at the signing conference in Oslo, Norway where 94 countries signed the treaty Lao PDR was the second country to sign the CCM on 3 December 2008, after the host country Norway, and ratify it four months later in March 2009 in August 1th this treaty became international binding law for all states parties.

23. Lao Government’s strategy objective Reduce the number of UXO casualties from 300 to less than 75 per year Ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO Survivors are met in line with treaty obligations Release priority land and clear UXO in accordance with National Standards and treaty obligations Ensure effective leadership, coordination and implementation of the national programme Establish sustainable national capacity fully integrated into the regular set-up of the Government Meet international treaty obligations

24. Lao PDR’s Millennium Development Goal 9 1.Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2.Achieve universal primary education 3.Promote gender and empower women 4.Reduce child mortality 5.Improve maternal health 6.Combat HIV-AIDs, malaria and other diseases 7.ensure environmental sustainability 8.Develop a global partnership for development 9.Reduce the impact of UXO

25. MDG9 The Government, UN and development partners signed an MDG Compact during the First Meeting of the Stats Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane in November 2010, to reaffirm their commitment to achieving the MDGs, at the Round Table Meeting in October 2010. The Compact also includes a localized MDG 9, to reduce the impact of UXO. With 41 out of 46 of the poorest districts contaminated by UXO the correlation between UXO and poverty is clear to see. The UN estimates that $300 million will be required over the next decade to achieve the targets.

26. Indicator for MDG9 Target 1: Ensure the complete clearance of UXO from priority / high value agricultural land by 2020 Number of hectares released from UXO contamination approximately 600,000 ha Target 2: Reduce substantially the number of casualties as a result of UXO incidents to 75 people/year Number of casualties reported as a result of UXO incidents Target 3: Ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO survivors are met in line with treaty obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions Provision of proper assistance to UXO survivors

27. CHALLENGES More safety for development To complete clearance of basic agriculture land by 2015 Need to speed up clearance by adding of new techniques Funding and donating to UXO works Plan to complete UXO clearing by 2020 For year 2011 UXO Sector need funding for $USD 30,000,000 At a 1MSP prepatory meeting in Geneva the NRA & UNDP called for $USD 120 - 150 million per annum over the next 5 years

28. Land denied Agriculture constrained Forestry management disrupted People, livestock, wildlife killed Food and livelihood vulnerability Development slowed down, made more expensive and more difficult. Conclusion

29. Thank you very much No questions/comments