VIENTIANE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has reaffirmed that clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains a national priority, underscoring its commitment to ensuring public safety and advancing socio-economic development.
In a press interview on Wednesday, marking the 30th anniversary of the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Program, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao president, highlighted the lasting impact of UXO contamination in Laos, according to Lao News Agency report on Thursday.
Thongloun stated that between 1964 and 1973, more than 580,000 bombing missions were carried out over Laos -- an average of one flight every eight minutes. During this nine-year period, more than 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on the country, including approximately 270 million cluster submunitions. As a result, Laos remains the most heavily bombed country in the world on a per capita basis.
The widespread bombardment devastated infrastructure and significantly hindered national development, contributing to Laos' classification as a Least Developed Country.
Decades after the war, UXO continues to pose a serious threat. An estimated 30 percent of cluster munitions failed to detonate and remain scattered across the country. These remnants of war continue to cause casualties and obstruct development projects.
In 2025, 15 accidents resulted in 25 victims, including six fatalities. So far in 2026, two accidents have injured seven people, with no deaths reported.
Looking ahead, the government has pledged to strengthen cooperation with international partners and modernize the UXO sector. The ultimate goal is to bring operations in line with international standards and ensure lasting safety and development opportunities for the Lao people. ■