11

UXO Vulnerability and UXO Vulnerability and Poverty EradicationPoverty Eradication

ERI, STEA, Lao PDRERI, STEA, Lao PDR

Sub-regional Conference on Poverty Environment Nexus, Sub-regional Conference on Poverty Environment Nexus, June 21 – 22, 2006, Vientiane, Lao PDRJune 21 – 22, 2006, Vientiane, Lao PDR

22

22% of villages in Lao PDR are 22% of villages in Lao PDR are contaminated with UXOs contaminated with UXOs

Percent of Villages in District Having UXO problems

UXO problem High UXO problem

33

Approximately 580,000 aerial bombing Approximately 580,000 aerial bombing missions dropped over two million tonnes missions dropped over two million tonnes of explosive ordnance.of explosive ordnance.

Around 30% of explosives failed to Around 30% of explosives failed to function function

15 of the country’s 18 provinces were 15 of the country’s 18 provinces were significantly contaminatedsignificantly contaminated

22% of villages reported a presence of 22% of villages reported a presence of UXOUXO

Over 50% of all agricultural land Over 50% of all agricultural land

44

Numbers of UXOs found by villagers during their daily activity within a year in 6 villages

Village Number of UXOs found per year

Pak Xay 500

La Kai 1,800

Kroung 13,000

Bak 10,000

Ta Lang Mai 3,800

Trak 10,000

55

UXO contamination is correlated with UXO contamination is correlated with higher district poverty higher district poverty

UXO contamination is one of the main causes of poverty UXO contamination is one of the main causes of poverty and restricts the local potentials to increase their livelihood and restricts the local potentials to increase their livelihood condition.condition.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Central Region

% of Villages Affected 5% 26% 38% 61% 64%

Least Poor Districts

Less Poor Districts

M oderately Poor

DistrictsPoor Disticts

Poorest Disticts

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Southern Region

% of Villages Affected 52% 50% 52% 73%

Least Poor Districts

Less Poor Districts

Poor Disticts Poorest Disticts

66

Correlation between UXO Contamination and Key Indicators 1995 - 98Correlation between UXO Contamination and Key Indicators 1995 - 98

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

NoEducation

Death rate Rural popdensity

Paddy areaper rural

capita

PovertyIncidence

Surfacewater

No toilet

South Central

77

Trak, 187 people, 18%

Pak Xay, 160 people, 16%

La Kai, 148 people, 15%

Kroung, 152 people, 15%

Bak, 147 people, 14%

Ta Lang Mai, 224 people, 22%

Shares of total population in 6 villages in Kaleum district

Many remote districts in the South are mostly populated by small Many remote districts in the South are mostly populated by small ethnic groups with special difficulties (Lao Theung)ethnic groups with special difficulties (Lao Theung)

UXOs are an additional issue they have to cope withUXOs are an additional issue they have to cope with

88

Selected Villages: Pak Xay, La Kai, Kroung, Bak, Proy, Trak

In Kaleum, high contamination is In Kaleum, high contamination is around district townaround district town

99

In UXO affected villages, swidden agriculture is In UXO affected villages, swidden agriculture is often one of the least dangerous activitiesoften one of the least dangerous activities

Where are UXOs in villages? What do they generate?Where are UXOs in villages? What do they generate?

– In swiddens:In swiddens: limited risk because UXOs explode when fire and no limited risk because UXOs explode when fire and no plowingplowing

– In paddy fields:In paddy fields: Risk when plowing, impossible to open new paddy field Risk when plowing, impossible to open new paddy field unless decontaminationunless decontamination

– Along rivers:Along rivers: Risk when fishing and river water use and collection Risk when fishing and river water use and collection

– In village center & along roads:In village center & along roads: Risk in daily activities, eg. cooking, Risk in daily activities, eg. cooking, impossible to build new school unless decontaminationimpossible to build new school unless decontamination

– In forests:In forests: Limited risks, because people know location Limited risks, because people know location

1010

UXO impact nowadays is less risks of UXO impact nowadays is less risks of accident than limitations of livelihoodsaccident than limitations of livelihoods

Since the first mission of UXO LAO officials Since the first mission of UXO LAO officials in late 1997, UXO caused accidents have in late 1997, UXO caused accidents have significantly reduced. However, villagers significantly reduced. However, villagers are still having a high UXO risks.are still having a high UXO risks.

1111

There are new villages in UXO-affected There are new villages in UXO-affected areas in the Southareas in the South

Village Original or new immigrated

Original villages Year of immigration

Distance from

original

Reason of immigration

Pak Xay New removed A Lem and Cha Ang 1975 3 days by foot

Avoiding from slope area and there was some degree of UXO risks.

La Kai Original

Kroung New removed Ta Xing 2003 15 minutes Follow Resettlement plan of Kaleum District

Bak New removed Houay Pak Xai 1973 15 minutes

Proy New removed Proy Neua, Proy Tai, Lang Kong

2003 15 minutes Follow Resettlement plan of Kaleum District

Trak Origional

1212

Village 1 2 3 4 5 6

New or old village

Migrated from east,

consolidated

village

Old village

Migrated from

nearby village

Migrated from nearby

village

Migrated recently

from nearby,

consolidated

village

Old village

UXO impactLow/

ModerateModerat

eModerate High Severe

Moderate/High

Livelihoods

TodayPaddy & livestock

dvt

Seasonal

migration

Metal scrap

NTFPs Outmigratio

nMetal scrap

Gold panning

Tomorrow

Sawmill Tourism Fruit treesPaddy

dvt

Village community are looking for alternative livelihood sources

Villagers have adapted to UXO contamination over the last Villagers have adapted to UXO contamination over the last 3 - 4 decades3 - 4 decades

1313

RecommendationsRecommendations

UXO clearance can only be very slow but UXO clearance can only be very slow but deserves increased international assistance as a deserves increased international assistance as a win-win poverty environment solution. win-win poverty environment solution.

In UXO affected districts, diversified income In UXO affected districts, diversified income generation should be supported generation should be supported

Improved rural water supply is an important need Improved rural water supply is an important need in UXO affected villagesin UXO affected villages

Resettlement policy in UXO affected areas Resettlement policy in UXO affected areas (South) should take full account of risks related to (South) should take full account of risks related to UXOsUXOs