On the morning of February 22, two 15-year-old girls in Laos triggered a 50+ year old bomb while digging for food. One child died instantly and the other is severely injured.
A problem we can fix within our lifetime
"For years, she urged the United States to do more to help remove unexploded bombs here in Laos. 'There are many, many problems in this world that might not be able to be solved in a lifetime,' she's said, but this is one we can fix. So, Channapha, we thank you for working to fix this problem."
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-President Barack Obama
From 1964-1973, the U.S.​ dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing sorties—equal to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years.
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With over 270 million cluster bombies dropped on Laos, approximately 30%, about 80 million, did not explode on impact and are still in the ground.
Roughly 30% of Laos is contaminated with UXO. Less than 10% has been cleared since the last bomb was dropped in 1973.
Laos remains the most bombed country per capita in history.
Laos remains the most bombed country per capita in history.
Laos remains the most bombed country per capita in history.
Legacies of War leads the call to ban cluster munitions in the U.S. and around the globe as the Chair of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines - Cluster Munition Coalition
OVER 50% OF UXO CASULATIES IN LAOS ARE CHILDREN
This is a crisis.
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Over 5 decades on, roughly 10% of the contaminated land in Laos has been cleared of UXO
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More than half of all confirmed cluster munitions casualties in the world have occurred in Laos
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At least 46 reported casualties (deaths and injuries) have occurred in Laos due to UXO in 2024, according to World Education -- over 60% were children​.
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Despite being the largest funder of global demining, with nearly $400 million allocated to demining activities in Laos since 1995, the U.S. spent at least $50 billion (in 2024 currency) to bomb Laos over nine years​
Legacies of War will never stop advocating for U.S. Government funds to clear bomb-filled land in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam so that these families can live, play, and work in peace.
We support the communities impacted by the American Secret War in Laos and American wars in Cambodia and Vietnam in three distinct ways:
Legacies is a proud member of these working groups
Co-Chair, War Legacies Working Group
Conventional Weapons Destruction Network
Environmental Issues and Mine Action
