UXO Lao holds the 2016 Semi-Annual Work Plan Review Meeting

On 15 August 2016, UXO Lao held the 2016 Semi-Annual Work Plan Review at UXO Lao Training Center, the meeting were chaired by UXO Lao Director Mr. Thiphasone SOUKHATHAMMAVONG and UXO Lao Deputy Director Mr. Wanthong KHAMDALA with the key participants from 9 provincial offices where UXO Lao currently operating, UXO Lao Headquarters and Training Center staffs-along with international technical advisors.

The meeting will be running from 15 – 17 August 2016 with aims to review the first half of the 2016 annual operation work plan, achievements, funding situations, issues or challenges and plan for second half of the year 2016. The meeting will also discuss on the direction of how to formulate the 2017 Annual Operational Plan. In addition, the draft UNDP programme document for NRA and UXO Lao will also be discussed in the meeting.

The expected outcomes of this meeting are:

• Second-half Annual Operational and Budget Plan will be revised;
• Implementation Plan of Non-Technical Survey will be set;
• Direction of 2017 Annual Operational Work Plan will be set.
• Funding gap by Quarter 4 will be informed and shared with all participants.

Lao Army successful completed a training program on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 1

            On 5 August 2016, the Lao National Unexploded  Ordnance Programme  (UXO  Lao) held a graduation ceremony for 26 members of the Humanitarian  Clearance  Teams of the Lao People’s Army after their completion of five-week  training  program on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Level 1. The  ceremony  was held  at the UXO Lao Training Center in Vientiane and was  chaired by UXO  Lao  Director Mr. Thiphasone Soukhathammavong and  co-chaired by Mr.  Phoukhieo  Chanthasomboune, Director of the National  Regulatory Authority for  UXO/Mine  Action Sector in Lao PDR (NRA) and  Lieutenant Colonel Mr. Viengxay  Xaysamone, Deputy Director of Engineering  Department of Ministry of National  Defence, the training program was funded  by the Government of Korea  through  the Trust Fund, administered by the United Nations Development Programme  (UNDP) in Lao PDR.

 The training program took place from 4 July to 5 August 2016 at the UXO Lao  Training Center and trained a group of 26 (including 4 women) deminers. It  was  the third successful program for the year 2016 behind two programs in  the first  half year. The training aims to strengthen the capacity of the Lao  People’s  Army,  particularly in UXO removal or destruction. The main areas  covered by the training were: Basic understanding on UXOs and Landmines; UXO fuse identification; demining tools utilization and UXO removal/destruction.

Certificates of completion were distributed to all trainees to certify the accomplishment of this training program, handed-over by UXO Lao Director Mr. Thiphasone Soukhathammavong.

In addition to the program, trainees who has shown particular aptitude during the five-week program were given a prize for first-class distinction, handed by NRA Director Mr. Phoukhieo Chanthasomboune.

Moreover, trainees who has shown their good skills were also received a present of second-class distinction which handed by Chief of UXO Lao Training Center Mr.  Kham Onn Vilaysane. Lastly, all the attendees was invited for a group photos as for officially closed and for the group memories.  

Foreign Ministers of Canada and Norway Meet UXO Lao During COPE Visits

On 26 July 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Stéphane Dion, paid a visit to the Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) Visitor Center in Vientiane and observed the work of the Center for Medical Rehabilitation (CMR).

During the visit, UXO Lao Director Mr. Thiphasone SOUKHATHAMMAVONG delivered a summary presentation on survey and clearance work in Lao PDR, detailing progress so far, new methods and plans for the future. This covered UXO Lao’s achievements since 1996 and ended with a warm expression of gratitude for the extensive support that Canada has provided to the UXO sector in Lao PDR since 2010.

 On the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Børge Brende,  also visited COPE. Mr. Brende was briefed  by  Mr.  Thiphasone and Jonas  Zachrisson, Country Director of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in  Lao PDR  on the terms of the new partnership project that is being implemented in  the country by both organizations.

 Mr. Thiphasone, expressed his profound thanks to Norway and NPA for  supporting the transition to evidence-based clearance in Lao PDR. This new  methodology has proved a significant increase of the productivity  of  clearance. Now, land is cleared based on analysis of data and technical  survey, so that uncontaminated land is not cleared. Since UXO Lao started  using this new methodology, the average number of cluster  munitions  found per hectare cleared has increased from 5 to more than 22.

 Mr. Thiphasone also expressed his gratitude to Norway for their generous  support to UXO Lao, which enable UXO Lao to achieve several output  results as planned. He also expressed his hope to continue working  with  both Canada and Norway to implement the organisation’s future plans to  address the remaining problem of UXO contamination and help the country on the road to development.

CMAC and UXO Lao successful completed second exchange scheme under South-South Cooperation Project – Phase II

 The successful completion of the first exchange scheme under the South-South Cooperation Project – Phase II took place during 2-13 November 2015 and focused on “Ownership and Partnership Capacity Development, Project Management and Monitoring & Evaluation”

The second theme of exchange focused on “Operational Management” and was carried out through four-week-on-the-job-training, including two weeks in Cambodia and two weeks in Laos. The first session took place from 6^th – 17^th June 2016 at CMAC Headquarters in Phnom Penh, Technical Institute of Mine Action in Kompong Chhnang province, Demining Unit 2, Central Workshop, Demining site in Battambang province, Demining Unit 4 in Siem Reap province and Demining Unit 5 in Kompong Cham.

 After one week-off for preparation, both sides continued the second session in Laos, the training took place from 27^th June – 8^th July 2016 at UXO Lao Headquarters in Vientiane Capital, UXO Lao Training Center, UXO Lao Khammuouane and Champasak offices.

                     Visit minefield in Battambang province                               Visit UXO clearance site in Champasak province

 The main purpose of CMAC-UXO Lao South-South Cooperation Project  Phase II  is to develop human resources and strengthen institutional capacity  of  governmental  organizations of both Lao PDR and Cambodia working in the  UXO/Mine Action Sector  through sharing knowledge and experiences.

 There were 12 participants attending the whole course of four-week   on-the- job-training in Cambodia and Laos, they are working in different sections  in CMAC and UXO Lao Headquarters and Provincial offices/Demining units.

   Assigned counterparts were sharing experiences from
                   each side at UXO Lao Training Center

                         In front of Angkor Wat Temple                                                      In front of Thatluang Stupa

In addition to the training program, both sides organized for city sightseeing on weekends of the first week of training, participants were given a chance to go on a sightseeing trip at various tourist and historical sites in Siem Reap province and Vientiane capital.
On the last day, all training participants had a chance to share what they have gained from four-week on-the-job-training with UXO Lao and CMAC top management, along with representatives from JICA Cambodia and Laos offices, at the end of the closing ceremony, certificates of completion were distributed to all training participants, handed-over by UXO Lao Director Mr. Thiphasone SOUKHATHAMMAVONG, and H.E. OUM Phumro, Deputy Director General of CMAC at UXO Lao Training Center in Vientiane.

Japan handed over dormitories and brush cutter machines to UXO Lao for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of its UXO clearance operation

 On 11 May 2016, the Japanese Ambassador to  Lao PDR, H.E. Mr. Takeshi HIKIHARA,  representing the Government of Japan, handed  over the dormitories and brush cutter machines  (BC) to UXO Lao under the Project Acceleration  of UXO Clearance for Rural Development and  Poverty Eradication in 3 southern provinces of  Lao PDR –namely: Champasak, Salavan and  Sekong. H.E. Mr. Bounthong DIVIXAY  represented on behalf of the Government of  Laos as well as 3 provincial authorities to receive  the dormitories and BCs. The ceremony was  held at Paksong District, Champasak Province  and attended by officials from the concerned  central agencies and provincial authorities. On  this occasion, H.E. Mr. Takeshi HIKIHARA,  delivered his speech that the presence of UXOs  in Lao PDR has killed and injured many people for  years and negatively affected to socio-economic  development of the country, preventing access  to agriculture land of local people. The  Government of Japan has started to support  UXO Lao since 1998 with more than four-thousand million Japanese Yen or equivalently 40 million USD. Notably, the support during 2014 – 2016 has provided 4 dormitories, 4 BCs, vehicles and operation costs, aiming at improving environmental living conditions for field staffs and accelerating the clearance speed. He also further stated that the Standard of Operation for the BCs is in the process of approval, and once it is approved it would help UXO Lao to speed-up on UXO clearance operation in difficult terrains where there are high UXO contamination. Aside from supporting the UXO sector, the Government of Japan also supports Lao PDR in other sectors across the country, e.g. health, educational, infrastructures, and other development projects.

In the last of his remark, the ambassador, Takeshi HIKIHARA, expressed his gratitude to the Lao Government for the long relations and collaboration between the two countries, and he also expressed his thankful to H.E Mr. Bounthong DIVIXAY, the Champasak’s Governor for the warmed welcome and representing the Lao Government as the Chairman of the hand-over ceremony as well as to all participants from the central and local governments for sparing the valuable time to participate.  He lastly thanked to the organizer that made this hand-over ceremony successful. Represent the Lao Government, H.E. Mr. Bounthong DIVIXAY, Champasak’s Governor, expressed his appreciation to the Japanese Government for its assistance to the Lao PDR. During his remark, he proudly expressed to represent the Lao Government and the 3 provincial authorities of Champasak, Salavan and Sekong and delivered a speech in receiving of the dormitories and BCs supported by the Japanese government. He also expressed his hope that the Japanese government would continue to provide more support to the Lao PDR.   

On the last session, both sides made a ribbon cut for an official hand-over, meaning that all supports are under the responsibility and being the assets of the Lao government from now on.