KPL
(KPL) The Norwegian government has provided 618,750 euros (Over 13 billion kip) in funding for the Integrated Victim Assistance and Promotion of UXO Safety Project in Phongsaly province.
(KPL) The Norwegian government has provided 618,750 euros (Over 13 billion kip) in funding for the Integrated Victim Assistance and Promotion of UXO Safety Project in Phongsaly province.
A Memorandum of Understanding on the funding was signed in Vientiane on Tuesday between the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector (NRA) and Humanity & Inclusion (HI) in Laos.
The agreement was signed by the Director General of the NRA, Mr Chomyaeng Phengthongsawat, and Country Manager of HI in Laos, Mr Reinier Carabain.
The project will be carried out from the date of approval until December 31, 2024, and comprises five main activities.
Firstly, the project will assist disabled people in local communities to represent their peers in important meetings.
It will also provide assistance to victims of UXO and people with disabilities, and link work to assist victims and educate local people about UXO risks.
In addition, the project will improve the effectiveness of the UXO risk education campaign, and will modify and improve the UXO safety manual application so it is consistent with actual use.
“Since 1975, there have been 19,252 victims of UXO, of whom 9,341 people were injured, including 8,951 adults and 390 children,” said Mr Chomyaeng. “Another 9,797 people have died, accounting for 60 percent of all accident victims, of whom 114 were children.”
Phongsaly province is contaminated with a large amount of unexploded ordnance, most of which is cluster bombs. These devices continue to be a challenging problem for the area’s social and economic development, affecting the daily lives of local people and creating a high risk of danger.
Since 2008, 31 people have fallen victim to UXO accidents, with 25 accidents, 16 deaths and 15 injured persons recorded in the national database.
The Integrated Victim Assistance and Promotion of UXO Safety project is another step forward in addressing the UXO problem and fulfilling the indicators in Phongsaly’s socio-economic development plan.
The initiative also supports the goals of the government, especially the 18th Sustainable Development Goal to make people’s lives safe from UXO.
The project will also strive to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of efforts to help people who have survived UXO explosions, their families and their communities, so that they receive help not only in the short term, but also in the long term.
KPL
