(KPL) Mine Risk Education (MRE) for children and their families and livelihood skills training for UXO victim-survivors in Xieng Khuang Province are key aims of the Government of Japan’s financial support worth approximately USD 290,000 through the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Project.

Mine Risk Education (MRE) targets children and their families in Pek and Phaxay Districts, Xieng Khuang Province. Japan’s support seeks to strengthen the livelihoods for vulnerable groups especially Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) survivors, their families and low-income households by helping them acquire the necessary skills to undertake beekeeping and honey production as a business.

A grant agreement was signed in Vientiane on March 21 between Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kobayashi Kenichi, and Terra Renaissance project manager Iimura Hiroshi. The agreement signing was witnessed by representatives from Ministry, Authority and Province.

“UXO clearance has been extensively conducted by the Government, authorities and development partners for more than 30 years, however it is said that only 1 or 2% has been successfully cleared to date,” said Mr. Iimura.

“In this situation, MRE is vital to help people especially children avoid UXO accidents, and the knowledge transfer of beekeeping serves to enhance livelihoods of vulnerable groups in the target districts without the need to cultivate highly contaminated land. As with our prior projects, we will make the same efforts in this project to improve the safety and livelihoods of the people in the target districts,” Mr. Iimura continued.

“Pek and Phaxay districts are areas in Xieng Khuang Province where a particularly large number of UXO contamination remains, and children under 7 years old are particularly at risk of accidents,” said Ambassador Kobayashi.

“In addition, it should not be overlooked that UXO poses serious socio-economic barriers for people in both districts. We hope these efforts made by Terra Renaissance contribute to improving the safety awareness and livelihoods while helping villagers stay safe from UXO accidents and earn additional incomes to improve their quality of life.”

Japan’s Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Project is provided via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for economic and social development projects that are voluntarily planned and implemented by Japanese international cooperation NGOs in developing countries and regions including the Lao PDR.

KPL