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