Norwegian aid to support UXO clearance

Norwegian People's Aid is to provide assistance in clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Attapeu province after an agreement was signed on Friday.

Dr Maligna Saignavongs ( left ) and Mr Charles Frisby ( right ) exchange signed agreements.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Director of the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) responsible for the UXO and landmine action sector in Laos , Dr Maligna Saignavongs, and the Country Programme Manager of Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), Mr Charles Frisby.

The signing was witnessed by the Honorary Consul for the Royal Norwegian Government, Mr Henrik Schmith, Head of the Department of Labour and Social Welfare in Attapeu province, Mr Bounpen Sangsonsack, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, as well as the governors of the province's five districts.

The assistance project, which is worth more than 12.1 billion kip (US$1,433,990), will support UXO Lao's activities in all five districts of Attapeu province for a two-year period from 2010 to 2011.

Attapeu, along with Saravan and Xekong, is one of the most UXO-contaminated provinces in Laos .

Dr Maligna said at the signing ceremony that these three provinces have also suffered severely in the flooding caused by tropical storm Ketsana. The risk of accidents could be increased by long-buried UXO that may have been unearthed by the recent flash floods.

“The start of the NPA project in the province is timely since UXO Lao's activities there have been seriously affected by the flood,” he said.

According to the document, this MoU follows two previous agreements for NPA activities in the provinces of Saravan and Xekong worth about 22.5 billion kip (over US$2.6 million) and 13.7 billion kip (over US$1.6 million) respectively.

“NPA's recent operations have been in support of aid response after tropical storm Ketsana. By signing this MoU for operation in the province of Attapeu , NPA Lao PDR will have completed its objective of establishing operations in these three southern provinces,” Mr Frisby said.

He also said that NPA will focus on developing a work plan that is consistent with both the national strategy for the UXO sector and with the input of the province and the districts.

Between 1997 and 2003, NPA supported the national operator, UXO Lao, with technical advisors and financial assistance.

“In terms of strategy, the NPA programme seeks to align itself fully with the national strategy for the UXO sector, “The Safe Path Forward”. NPA's vision is to be a leading partner in the sector and help the NRA in creating a Lao PDR that is free from the threat of UXO, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment and contribute to development, and where UXO victims are fully integrated into their societies and their needs are met,” Mr Frisby said.

In December 2008 in Oslo , the government of the Lao PDR and the Royal Norwegian Government signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The political commitment was designed to stop the cruel impact of the se weapons, and outlined the obligation of parties to the convention to support the affected parties in survey and clearance.

Dr Maligna said the project will support the Lao government in implementing its international obligations arising from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, help to accelerate clearance activities and consequently reduce the number of UXO accidents.

According to a project document, 200 hectares of fields are expected to be cleared each year for industrial or agricultural use with a corresponding decrease in the number of victims.

By Somxay Sengdara
(Latest Update February 8 , 2010)