(KPL) More than 270 delegates from over 120 countries and international organisations visited a UXO clearance site in Ban Phik Yai, Luang Prabang District, on September 13, 2026, ahead of the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which the Lao PDR will host from September 14–18.

The visit was led by Mr. Anoupharb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chairman and Permanent Member of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action in the Lao PDR.

The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Bounlua Sinxayvoravong, Governor of Luang Prabang Province, and received briefings from the Director of the National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao) and field managers on UXO survey and clearance operations in the province.

The briefings covered the extent of UXO contamination, achievements, operational challenges and future survey and clearance plans.

Luang Prabang remains one of the provinces heavily affected by unexploded ordnance left over from past conflicts, with Ban Phik Yai among the most severely affected communities.

Technical surveys conducted since 2016 have covered 423 hectares, of which 347.2 hectares have been confirmed as Confirmed Hazardous Areas containing UXO. Clearance operations have so far covered 119.73 hectares, including 117.3 hectares of agricultural land and 2.39 hectares of land designated for other development purposes.

During these operations, 3,461 items of unexploded ordnance were found and destroyed, including two large bombs, 2,775 cluster munitions and 684 other items of ordnance.

Located about 17 kilometres from Luang Prabang District centre, Ban Phik Yai is home to communities whose livelihoods depend largely on agriculture. The clearance and handover of land certified safe from UXO will enable residents to expand rice farming, vegetable and fruit cultivation, and livestock raising, while gradually moving from subsistence farming towards commercial production.

The safe use of cleared land will also create opportunities for local economic development and the establishment of safe tourism areas.

As one of the countries most heavily affected by cluster munitions, the Lao PDR has played an active role in the development and adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Government has incorporated the treaty’s objectives into its national UXO strategy, Safe Path Forward III (2021–2030), and adopted Sustainable Development Goal 18, “Lives Safe from UXO”.

During the visit, the delegation witnessed the controlled destruction of recovered UXO and toured the information

KPL