Vientiane: Laos is seeking continued international assistance to deal with unexploded ordnance left behind from past conflicts, as contaminated land remains a serious obstacle for communities across the country.

Large quantities of unexploded bombs and other explosive remnants remain buried in agricultural fields, forests and rural areas decades after the conflicts that affected Laos during the 20th century.

The remnants pose a continuing danger to local residents, particularly farmers and children who may encounter unexploded devices while working or moving through contaminated areas.

Laos has made clearance of unexploded ordnance a major national priority. Specialized teams have been working to identify contaminated locations, remove dangerous devices and make land safer for communities.

International financial and technical support remains important because clearing unexploded ordnance is a complex and expensive process. Teams must survey suspected areas carefully before explosives can be safely removed or destroyed.

The problem also affects economic development. Land that contains unexploded ordnance cannot always be safely used for farming, construction or infrastructure projects until clearance operations have been completed.

Rural communities are among those most directly affected. Farmers may face difficult choices when potentially contaminated land is needed for cultivation, while families living near suspected areas must remain alert to possible dangers.

Alongside clearance operations, Laos has expanded programs designed to educate communities about recognizing and avoiding unexploded devices. Public awareness is particularly important in areas where children may encounter remnants without understanding the risks.

The government continues to cooperate with international organizations and foreign partners on clearance, risk education and assistance for people affected by explosive remnants.

Despite progress over many years, the scale of contamination means that clearance remains a long-term undertaking.

Laos is therefore continuing to call for international cooperation so that more contaminated land can be cleared and returned safely to communities. The effort is expected to remain an important part of the country’s humanitarian and development agenda.