VIENTIANE, July 7 (Xinhua) ---- The Lao government and the United Nations Development Program on Friday signed a new support project on unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Lao capital Vientiane, Lao News Agency reported.
The project, comprising a financial envelope by UNDP to Laos of 84 million U.S. dollars, will focus on enhanced support to livelihood activities for affected populations, improved efficiency of clearance operations and progress in the effort to establish a national baseline of UXO contamination, among others, the report said, quoting Lao Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Khampheng Xaysompheng.
The project duration will last until the end of 2021.
The project builds on UNDP's 20-year experience in the UXO sector in Laos, the minister said.
"This new project will concentrate on the clearance of the most contaminated provinces, supporting a new, evidence- based survey methodology to focus clearance on high-risk areas. This new approach has resulted in a four-fold increase in the number of UXO cleared per hectare of land already," said the minister.
