UXO and SocialEconomic Development in Lao PDR By Mr Vilavong SYSAVATH National University of Laos Literature review This paper will present an overview of UXO impact on social development in Lao PDR and its cause of unacceptable harm in the civilians ID: 431779
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International Young Scholars Workshop (IYSW), Kyoto University“UXO and Social-Economic Development in Lao PDR“By Mr. Vilavong SYSAVATHNational University of Laos Slide2Slide3
Literature reviewThis paper will present an overview of UXO impact on social development in Lao PDR and its cause of unacceptable harm in the civilians. The literature review then consider UXO is cause of injured and pose a significant barrier to poverty reduction and development and more specifically at the humanitarian mine action sector looking at the main products of UXO action; clearance, and the victim assistance (VA). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Lao PDR (GoL) recognize UXO pollution as cross cutting issue in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Slide4
When the bombs fell in Lao PDRDuring the Indochina conflict between 1964 - 1973, Lao was the site of extensive aerial bombings and concentrated ground battles. More than 580,000 bombing missions dropped over two million tons of ordnance on the country making it. Laos is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history. Every year more than 300 people were died and injured by UXO Slide5
National UXO Impact Map VS. Poverty Map72 poor districts of which47 are considered as the poorest ones (of highest priority)
Impact Map
Poor District MapSlide6
Snapshot of the UXO Issue in Lao PDRApproximately 25% of villages in Laos are contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over LaosOver 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973Cluster sub-munitions or ‘Bombies’ (as they are known locally) are the most common form of UXO remainingUp to 30%
failed to detonate
Approximately
80 million
unexploded
bombies
remained in Laos after the war
14 out of 17 provinces of Laos suffer from UXO contamination
There are approximately 300 new casualties each year. Slide7Slide8
BLU 3BLU 26
BLU 61
BLU18Slide9
OverviewLao is an under-developed country in which the majority of the population are still living a subsistence farming based lifestyle. in its most fundamental form, the impact of UXO contamination stops food productionToday communities cannot access the agricultural land they need and restricts many aspects of commodity development and nation building, as the UXO prolongs the conditions of poverty the government of Lao recognizes this and see UXO clearance as a key development priorityThe institution such as Work Bank also acknowledge this link and content that GDP growth is retarded significantly by the present of pervasive and permanent UXO problem Slide10
Planning for the Future…. Lao PDR is likely to see a major expansion in four key industrial sectorsAgriculture & Forest PlantationsMining
Transportation
Mining
and
Hydropower GenerationSlide11
Agriculture SectorPlan for Agriculture in 2020 predicts expansion will be constrained by suitable soils, protected areas, steep slopes and future hydropower projects
Mining
Potential for rapid expansion following recent ending of three year Government moratorium on new mining concessions. Likelihood of future bauxite strip mining in
Boloven
plateau area requiring hundreds of square kilometers of clearance with associated resettlement and additional demand for new hydropower projects.
Transportation Sector
Major Economic Corridors being constructed through
Savannakhet
from Thailand to Vietnam & through Northern Laos up to China with strong support from ADB/World Bank
Hydropower Sector
“The Battery of South East Asia”
“and…”Slide12
Mining Potential for rapid expansion following recent ending of three year Government moratorium on new mining concessions. Likelihood of future bauxite strip mining in Boloven plateau area requiring hundreds of square kilometers of clearance with associated resettlement and additional demand for new hydropower projects.
Transportation
Major Economic Corridors being constructed through
Savannakhet
from Thailand to Vietnam & through Northern Laos up to China with strong support from ADB/World BankSlide13
How does UXO hold back Social-Economic Development?The presence of UXO can lead to the following restrictions:Today cluster sub-munitions and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to kill and injure around 300 people a year. Their presence now impacts on the socio-economic development of the country, preventing access to agricultural land and increasing the costs, through land clearance, of all development projects such asImpact on the agricultural sector Impact on Infrastructure building as: building schools and roads.hydroelectric power, mining operation, forestry and tourisms, etc…Slide14
According to the National Survey of UXO Victims and Accidents, phase 1, 1964 – 2008. this has yielded detail of :50,136 casualties recorded.26 % of all casualties were children 18 years old and belowAbout 60% (30,000) occurred in the decade 1964 to 1973About 60% of all casualties (30,000) were killed in the accident and 40% (20,000) were injuredEffects of the UXO on civilianSlide15Slide16
Devices Causing Accidents: post-conflictSlide17
UXO accident from 2009 - 2011Total accident in time: 275 timesYear
Injured
Killed
Total
(people)
2009
110
56
166
2010
80
37
117
2011
(Jan-June
)
60
15
75Slide18
Land Released (TS & Clearance) Since 1996 – June 2011 Total 27,133 HaBy 2009 = 4,144 ha, and 2010 = 4,062 ha
(both including the commercial clearance)Slide19
TOTAL UXO DESTROYEDClearance and Roving Operation(01 January 1996 to June 2011)Number of UXO Destroy via TS, Roving & Clearance , total: 1,305,375 itemsSlide20
Financial Contributions to the UXO Sector - 2006 to 2010 (excluding commercial companies)
2007 Funding declined 1.5% from 2006 Levels
2008 Funding declined 22% from 2007 Levels
2010 Funding increase 16% from 2009 Levels Slide21
1975 Lao government did clear and destroy UXO by Lao Army for building the houses, public land, agriculture area and other land1994 Lao government allowed MAG established in Xieng Khouang province.1995 Lao government, UNDP and UNICEF established Trust Fund UXO Lao 1996 Lao government established UXO Lao CoordinationOperation in 9 UXO contamination provinces
2004 Lao government adopted National Strategic Plan 2003 – 2013
2006 Lao government established National
Regulatory
Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR
Government has been doing for solving UXO problemSlide22
The Oslo Process on the Convention on the Cluster Munitions In February 2007, 46 governments met in Oslo to endorse a call by Norwegian Foreign Minister to conclude a new treaty in 2008 that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians and provides adequate resources to assist survivors and clear contaminated areas. In May 2008, the Convention on Cluster Munitions was negotiated and adopted by 107 countries at the Dublin conference. The treaty was first opened for signature on 3 December 2008 at the signing conference in Oslo, Norway where 94 countries signed the treaty
Lao PDR was the second country to sign the CCM on 3 December 2008, after the host country Norway, and ratify it four months later in March 2009
in August 1th
this treaty became international binding law for all states parties.Slide23
Lao Government’s strategy objective Reduce the number of UXO casualties from 300 to less than 75 per year Ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO Survivors are met in line with treaty obligationsRelease priority land and clear UXO in accordance with National Standards and treaty obligationsEnsure effective leadership, coordination and implementation of the national programmeEstablish sustainable national capacity fully integrated into the regular set-up of the GovernmentMeet international treaty obligations Slide24
Lao PDR’s Millennium Development Goal 9 Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerAchieve universal primary education Promote gender and empower women Reduce child mortalityImprove maternal health Combat HIV-AIDs, malaria and other diseasesensure environmental sustainabilityDevelop a global partnership for development Reduce the impact of UXO Slide25
MDG9 The Government, UN and development partners signed an MDG Compact during the First Meeting of the Stats Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane in November 2010, to reaffirm their commitment to achieving the MDGs, at the Round Table Meeting in October 2010. The Compact also includes a localized MDG 9, to reduce the impact of UXO. With 41 out of 46 of the poorest districts contaminated by UXO the correlation between UXO and poverty is clear to see. The UN estimates that $300 million will be required over the next decade to achieve the targets.Slide26
Indicator for MDG9Target 1: Ensure the complete clearance of UXO from priority / high value agricultural land by 2020 Number of hectares released from UXO contamination approximately 600,000 ha Target 2: Reduce substantially the number of casualties as a result of UXO incidents to 75 people/yearNumber of casualties reported as a result of UXO incidents Target 3: Ensure that the medical and rehabilitation needs of all UXO survivors are met in line with treaty obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions Provision of proper assistance to UXO survivors Slide27
CHALLENGES More safety for development To complete clearance of basic agriculture land by 2015 Need to speed up clearance by adding of new techniques Funding and donating to UXO works Plan to complete UXO clearing by 2020 For year 2011 UXO Sector need funding for $USD 30,000,000
At a 1MSP
prepatory
meeting in Geneva the NRA & UNDP called for
$USD
120 - 150
million
per annum over the next 5 yearsSlide28
Land denied Agriculture constrained Forestry management disrupted People, livestock, wildlife killed Food and livelihood vulnerability Development slowed down, made more expensive and more difficult.
ConclusionSlide29
Thank you very muchNo questions/comments