UXO Victims
National UXO Victims and Accidents Survey
In 2008, the National Regulatory Authority, supported by the National Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Public Health, carried out the field work for a survey of UXO casualties and accidents throughout Lao PDR.
Full results of the survey as well as more information on UXO victims and survivors may be found on the National Regulatory Authority website http://www.nra.gov.la/index.html
UXO Victims and Survivors (UXO Lao data)
Around 12,000 UXO-related accidents occurred since 1973. Data gathered by UXO Lao in areas where it operates in from 1999 to present, show 934 casualties, divided into 655 injuries and 279 deaths. Data indicates more than 50% of the victims are children and more than 81% are male. Bombies are the most common cause of accidents. Please note that UXO Lao only receives reports of UXO accidents in areas it operates in. Actual UXO accidents nationwide may be more than this.
A study in 2006 conducted by UNICEF on UXO Risk Education Needs Assessment shows that there is a high level of awareness and understanding among both adults and children and the risks associated with coming into contact with UXO. Nevertheless, despite these known risks, many people, on an almost daily basis, continue to interact with live or potentially live ordnance. These interactions can be categorized as voluntary and deliberate (e.g. moving UXO from agricultural land or scrap metal collection) or involuntary and unintentional (e.g. sub-surface UXO while farming.) The assessment demonstrated that decisions on behavior towards UXO are made within a complex and interlocking milieu of social, economic, political, and cultural factors.
Places where accidents usually occur:
Usual activities causing UXO-related accidents:
(Note: This data was reported by UXO Lao provincial Coordinator, but may not show all UXO accidents that occurred in Lao PDR during the reporting period)
|
Provinces |
Number of accident |
Number of casualties |
Number of Injury |
Number of Death |
||||||||
|
Child |
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
|||||||||
|
Injury |
Death |
Total |
Boy |
Girl |
Man |
Woman |
Boy |
Girl |
Man |
Woman |
||
|
Luangprabang |
56 |
94 |
40 |
134 |
47 |
17 |
18 |
10 |
24 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
|
Huaphanh |
65 |
92 |
26 |
118 |
31 |
12 |
41 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
14 |
1 |
|
Xiengkhouang |
301 |
375 |
133 |
508 |
162 |
51 |
133 |
29 |
53 |
12 |
58 |
9 |
|
Khammuane |
75 |
94 |
62 |
156 |
54 |
8 |
25 |
7 |
24 |
1 |
35 |
2 |
|
Savannakhet |
180 |
212 |
91 |
303 |
82 |
16 |
99 |
12 |
46 |
4 |
37 |
3 |
|
Salavan |
65 |
82 |
36 |
118 |
32 |
10 |
27 |
13 |
16 |
2 |
17 |
1 |
|
Sekong |
25 |
28 |
23 |
51 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
|
Champasak |
64 |
96 |
49 |
145 |
44 |
8 |
30 |
14 |
17 |
4 |
26 |
2 |
|
Attapue |
73 |
72 |
55 |
127 |
18 |
9 |
35 |
10 |
19 |
– |
32 |
4 |
|
Total |
904 |
1,154 |
515 |
1,660 |
478 |
140 |
418 |
104 |
214 |
33 |
240 |
26 |
UXO accident survivors are treated in hospitals. They are rehabilitated at rehabilitation centers. Such centers are supported by Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE).
For more details on UXO accidents, please visit the website of National Regulatory Authority: http://www.nra.gov.la/index.html