Why Laos is still struggling with unexploded ordnance | DW News

For a decade, the United States dropped more than two million tonnes of cluster munitions on Laos, in its battle against communism. These weapons remain dangerous today. Many bombs did not detonate, and they sit in the soil, in silence, until a civilian comes across them.
More than 20,000 people have been killed or maimed since the end of the US campaign, many of them children. The work to clear Laos of cluster bombs has gone on for decades and will take decades more.
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#bombs #mines #Laos

[@AceChina]

I'm currently in Laos. I met a family who literally had a huge hole in their backyard due to a bomb that went off. It still affects people to this day. A problem is that the cluster bombs look like toy balls so some children would pick them up and throw them not knowing the consequences. May sound odd but you have to remember that the country is quite poor and many rural communities lack toys for their children so kids seeing a metal ball is enticing to them. Fortunately it's less of a problem now due to the Lao government and humanitarian organizations who spread awareness and de-mine the country. In the video they mention the organization Handicap International. In the areas I was in I didn't see them (Laos is a surprisingly big country) but I do know many humanitarian organizations in the area help and the people are thankful for it. Donating and visiting the country help. Laos is a very good country for outdoor activities and incredibly affordable. Just make sure you go to trekked areas that are safe from bombs.

[@thesubgenius1676]

They bought a house and never bothered looking for bombs in their yards.

[@univeropa3363]

Laos was neutral, by the way. And as far as I am aware America doesn't help much with cleaning up their own mess.

[@Frobbl]

Speak about the Agent Orange babies who still get born to this day...

[@Smokedout33]

LMFAO neutral.... uhh no... no exactly. Maybe go read a book about the Vietnam war.

[@twestgard2]

We’re too busy creating new problems to waste time cleaning up our past ones. /snark Seriously though, this is terrible and I really hope someday we can focus on doing good things like de-mining.

[@AceChina]

I'm currently in Laos (you can check my videos as proof). The American and UK governments donate quite a lot to the The Halo Trust who work on educating and demining Laos and many other countries. I met Lao locals who were incredibly happy with the work they did. Unfortunately had the Americans not stupidly bombed the country to kingdom come we wouldn't have had this problem to begin with.

[@Deadassbruhfrfr]

Neutral? Lmao no.

[@Samirustem]

Before starting new wars these countries should go and clear all the mess they made.

[@Kwippy]

What countries started what new wars?

[@dcnation2001]

@@KwippyAmerica obviously

[@injusticeanywherethreatens4810]

The best part!?: *THE USA STILL HAS YET TO PAY ANY REPARATIONS!*

[@zen1647]

Amazing story. Heartbreaking but those quiet spoken mine clearers are inspirational.

[@juamu1132]

over to 2-3 million bombs and yet they still lost lol

[@John-Sv]

That’s how determined the Vietnamese were to now be a “democracy “. Or a French colony prior to US involvement.

[@ntuduy]

US definition of freedom and democracy:

[@prakorngirodkunkid7877]

Agree. Freedom to bomb any countries in the world.

[@coreyleander7911]

This doesn’t even make sense.

[@zsarimaxim692]

@@coreyleander7911 Makes perfect sense as US drop “freedom and democracy” on people via its bombs, Vietnam, Laos, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and the list goes on and on.

[@Jason-io9zg]

@@coreyleander7911 U support Trump or Biden?

[@tomhenry897]

Leaving out North Veitnam gassing mountain tribes

[@kevinjenner9502]

The CIA referred to their covert war in Laos as “the largest paramilitary operations ever undertaken by the CIA”…During the bombing campaign (1964-1973) 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos, the most bombed country in the world..To date 20,000 people have been injured or killed as a result of unexploded munitions in Laos.

[@coreyleander7911]

Why was Laos bombed? Why did the CIA support Laotian guerrilla forces against communist ones?

[@sagittariusann1220]

DW, Please be a good dog and don't try to talk about your master

[@mrchoudhury6611]

Its not US war crime, because USA can't commit war crime 😅😅

[@vectorfox4782]

Clown comment

[@coreyleander7911]

Do you think bombing positions in a country is inherently a war crime?

[@mrchoudhury6611]

@@coreyleander7911 no USA didn't commit any war crime in history 😂😂😂the word war crime is only for Russia 🤣🤣

[@coreyleander7911]

@@mrchoudhury6611 interesting you didn’t answer my question. But Russia is bombing “military targets” only in Ukraine as they massacre Ukrainians in Kherson, right pro Russian Indian? My Lai is a prominent example of US war crimes, since it was targeting civilians. Don’t get me started on all Indian atrocities committed during The Partition.

[@mrchoudhury6611]

@@coreyleander7911 what Indian atrocities you know off ... Don't try to befool the people... Unlike you, we never use democracy as senitizer to wash our crime ( if any ) against humanity !

[@John-Sv]

Why is there nobody commenting on Henry Kissingers involvement in coordinating these attacks?

[@dub604]

The US needs to clean up the mess they created when they illegally bombed Lao. It's been decades and still they refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

[@user-dc1dr9kr8x]

France has the same problem as does Germany as does Russia from German Agression from WW2....does Germany pay for those?...I'm asking?

[@dub604]

@@user-dc1dr9kr8x Nonsense... your whataboutary is pathetic.. run along now.

[@white69cracker]

​@@user-dc1dr9kr8xGermans were animals for what did to people they deserved it

[@kzm-cb5mr]

@@user-dc1dr9kr8x The German state today isn't the same German state from WW2, you dimwit. The US of Vietnam War is still the same American political entity today.

[@twestgard2]

@@user-dc1dr9kr8xYes, maybe, but also we Americans should clean up our own messes just because they’re ours. The fact that other countries also have problems isn’t really relevant to our obligation to do what’s right. If anything, we should be eager and proud to be at the cutting edge of solving these problems.

[@marshalllapenta7656]

Question? What to do? Answer? Send the EOD people! -This would be an EXCELLENT training opportunity!

[@julioduan7130]

Any US citizens are watching this video? What do you think about it? Laos is until now one of the poorest countries in the world thanks to US bombs.

[@harukrentz435]

They are busy looting and shooting each other.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

No, it is because it is controlled by a communist government.

[@gregorverstraelen3347]

In all fairness, the report should’ve analysed some technical differences. Cluster bombs are set to trip at a certain altitude, which was mentioned. In a mountainous country like Laos this indeed leads to an excessive dud-rate. The Ukrainian theater to the contrary is flat. Moreover these weapons have been refined since the 60s and now have a did-rate lower than 2%. Too much still for some, fair enough. I just wanted to remark that the report shouldn’t just copy/paste historical events onto actual conflicts, but rather realistically discuss differences as well, in order to be accurate and credible.

[@twestgard2]

That sounds like a distinction without a difference, at least not a clear difference. The increased number of bombs means more duds. Will Ukraine have a bigger or worse dud problem than Laos? The only way to answer that is to stop sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. If we keep sending them the lines will match eventually.

[@Joe--]

​@@twestgard2 Not quite, you're confusing total with percent dud rate. The real problem is the *hundreds of thousands of mines put by Russia into an area the size of Florida* inside Ukraine. These cluster munitions will and have helped clear these mines. Because of the size, variety, and nature of the shear number of unexploded mines left by the Russians -let alone the ongoing war, duds from the cluster munitions are their least worry; they are the ones asking for them, and the ones who will have to clean up after the war. _Ukrainians know what is best, what they need._

[@twestgard2]

@@Joe-- What you said doesn’t respond to what I said.

[@Joe--]

​@@twestgard2 It does respond to what you said though, "Will Ukraine have a bigger or worse dud problem than Laos?" and "The only way to answer that is to stop sending cluster bombs to Ukraine."

[@patrickgz]

is DW account hacked? didnt DW agree with usa that clusters are 'safe'

[@coreyleander7911]

Russian mad

[@jaygatsby3039]

In 10 years, 2184 people died in Laos due to these bombs from the UNITED STATES (Laos was neutral btw). "Some 288 million cluster munitions and about 75 million unexploded bombs were left across Laos after the war ended." -- The most bombed nation in the history of humankind.

[@Frobbl]

"America is the good guys" lol

[@coreyleander7911]

True. Why does this show otherwise?

[@timothypeterson1903]

Ukraine can look forward to unexploded ordinance for the next 100+ years

[@79chgoh]

Hope no non magnetic mine were used

[@VarkeyChinnadan]

Germany should provide humanitarian aid to Laos to clean this mess...

[@coreyleander7911]

The US already is.

[@John-Sv]

Why should the Germans waste their resources on a problem they didn’t create? Don’t you people have other issues such as gas shortages and stuff?

[@schlafcomandanten]

Make the US pay, one way or the other.

[@coreyleander7911]

The US is already paying

[@schlafcomandanten]

@@coreyleander7911 Clearly not enough

[@coreyleander7911]

@@schlafcomandanten true, but it hasn’t ignored the issue in modern times. Laos is currently a communist nation.

[@schlafcomandanten]

@@coreyleander7911 Who cares if Laos is a communist nation? Are you in the SS?

[@coreyleander7911]

@@schlafcomandanten Well communists are inherently evil, of course. The SS? Why would I be apart of the fascist country that allied with the communist USSR to start WW2?

[@KIA-MIA-POW]

Following any aborted strike in North Vietnam, the F4s of the 8thTFW USAF would jettison their bombs over Laos before landing back at Ubon RTAF base in Thailand.

[@KIA-MIA-POW]

@DG-ie5ip Having ALL been armed just prior to takeoff, it was essential for an F4, like many other types, to jettison ALL munitions prior to landing. Failure to do so could be fatal. Lowering the weight was not to gain speed but to meet landing AUW requirements. Don't tell me it wasn't true, as I was there!

[@retireeelectronics2649]

Why did the commentator at the start just mention Ukraine using cluster bombs vs say both Russia (used it first) and Ukraine. Then the US dropped cluster bombs on Loas (yup, no question about that) and Soviet Union did in Afghanistan, butterly bombs), but this report is aimed at Loas. Glory to the deminers who do a dangerous and needed job, Hopefully good education and lots of training will remove decades of war

[@John-Sv]

Hopefully the media gets a lot of training too😂

[@harukrentz435]

But america cared about human rights and rule based order right? Right? What a sick joke.

[@casard5235]

Ahem, war that is.

[@ioannisdimakis7460]

Be careful DW. This is not something you are allowed to discuss. Behave according to the guidelines. You are doing so well normally, say Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine.

[@Funkywallot]

???

[@inzidenziaschulz7972]

@@Funkywallot Being critical with uncle sam.

[@СаенкоСвятослав]

And dont speak about Nord Stream 😂😂😂

[@inzidenziaschulz7972]

I@@СаенкоСвятослав It's ok to talk about Nordstream, as long as you point your finger to the east.

[@JohnJones-k9d]

Perhaps they should seize all US asset and use them to pay to clear mines and compensation for those killed and injured.

[@coreyleander7911]

Already have. I think we should seize “all Russian assets” instead

[@tomhenry897]

Come and get it

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Why? The United States does help out and it would be economically unfeasible.

[@binjbinj8018]

THe U.S will have a thousand years to clean this up because of seasonal issue with flooding and landscaping changes over time. These landmines will come and goes without notice! Even if you clean up an area it will pop up next year or several years later down the road!

[@RobertSailing]

American exceptionalism in action…

[@okman9684]

Thats a lot of freedom in laos ✊ 🇱🇦

[@jokovet03]

Thanx to US. Si paling human rights 😊

[@AprezaRenaldy]

0:46 us war crime

[@dimamatat5548]

Unexploded ordance being a danger was the way it was intended by the Americans. What better way to cripple a foe for decades?

[@jt-ttt]

wow wow wow, dw, how dare you. 😂 You are betraying your master😂

[@AddisonYetta-u5r]

Considine Stream

[@bancho6984]

No war crime was committed here Bacause we are not russia Sincerely USA

[@Kwippy]

This country of beautiful peaceful people has been under the yoke of a regressive oppressive communist government since WW2 and before that under the oppressive rule of the French. Laos lags behind its prosperous neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and China by decades. It is unlikely Laos will make much progress, including essential demining work, while the dictatorial communist regime remains in power and there is no prospect of that changing in the foreseeable future.

[@tomhenry897]

They won So here’s your prize

[@waitandhope]

Omg

[@CamperDurgesh]

Hello Laos, enjoy your communism.

[@ntuduy]

ikr, it's the evil communism who dropped them 🤡

[@AlternativeGeopolitics]

oh look a genocidal murderer from USA.

[@white69cracker]

Democracy sent by america

[@charchar8]

The majority of the people of Laos did not choose communism. My father, uncles, and grandfather fought the communist. The communist in Vietnam help overthrow the governments in Laos and Cambodia after the Americans left Vietnam. A few of my father's friends were executed, and part of our family had to escape. Some of our family are still in Laos, but need to be careful of what they say.

[@coreyleander7911]

@@white69crackerwhere? Tell us you’re a Russian faster if you can 😂

[@zhaojunzhou7306]

It doesn't get much attention and views！ Is there a Julian Assange for US war crimes in SE Asia？

[@bryandale7125]

What irresponsible reporting, to conflate munition technology that is many decades-old with today's Hi-Tech.

[@harukrentz435]

Today's hi-tech 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 most munition used today is made 30-40 years ago! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂