Beneath the tranquil and verdant landscapes of the Lao PDR lies a lingering shadow—millions of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind from decades of conflict. While international treaties and dedicated clearance operations strive to heal the scarred land, the true measure of this hidden crisis is etched deep into the lives of survivors whose extraordinary courage continues to inspire many of us.

Among them is Mr Santi, whose life changed forever on 15 June 2010. Only 12 years old at the time, Santi was out helping his family by weeding the rice paddy in Ban Nathong, Kham District, Xieng Khuang Province. Around 9:00 am, his farming tool unexpectedly struck a buried device. "After the explosion, everything went black," he recalls with quiet reflection. Santi regained consciousness in a hospital bed, having spent eight agonizing days in the intensive care unit - ICU.

The blast left him with a permanent physical disability—a paralysed arm—shattering the bright dreams of a healthy child eager to support his family. Yet, anchored by the profound love and daily encouragement of his parents, Santi slowly learned to adapt to his new reality. Though daily life remains fraught with physical and emotional challenges, his determination endures undimmed: "I will not give up and will strive hard for my parents and family."

A similar powerful narrative of resilience unfolds in Savannakhet Province, voiced by Mr Nuay Phonesomxay. In 2006, when Nuay was just 10 years old in Sepon District, childlike naivety and a lack of awareness led him to mistake a dormant cluster munition for a simple stone.

He picked it up to play, tossing it around, and it detonated violently in his right hand. Rushed to hospital by his frantic parents, Nuay woke to a devastating reality. "It felt like a nightmare; I did not want to live anymore because I could not accept the truth," he shares candidly. Darkness threatened to consume him, but his family's unwavering support pulled him back from the brink of despair.

Rather than letting tragedy dictate his future, Nuay chose a path of redemption and active empowerment. Today, at 28 years of age, he works proudly as a mobile clearance team member with The HALO Trust, stationed in Ban Keng Huapa. His motivation is profoundly personal: "I do not want the new generation of children to encounter the same tragedy as I did. I want to take part in clearing all UXO in the Lao PDR so that our communities can be safe in the future."

The experiences of Santi and Nuay shed light on the broader human dimension of the CCM Homecoming—the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, hosted in Vientiane from Sep 14 to 18. As international delegates deliberate on vital policies, funding, and clearance targets, survivors stand as living testaments to why this global mission cannot falter.

As survivors look to the future, their collective message to the global community is clear and heartfelt. They express profound gratitude to government bodies, international organisations, donors, and operational agencies who have stood by them through thick and thin. However, they emphasize that true, lasting recovery extends far beyond material aid alone. Survivors need sustainable pathways forward—access to quality education, specialized medical care, vocational training, and, crucially, meaningful employment within the UXO sector itself.

Employment in clearance and victim assistance does much more than generate household income; it restores human dignity, personal agency, and a profound sense of purpose. It allows survivors to transform their darkest trauma into a beacon of hope, ensuring they can walk their native soil with confidence, a renewed smile, and the knowledge that they are actively shaping a safer tomorrow.

KPL