Vientiane Capital, 8 July 2025 – The National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR (NRA) held the first UXO/Mine Action Sector Working Group Meeting (SWG) of 2025 on 8 July, bringing together high-level government representatives, development partners and UXO operators to reflect on progress and set the strategic direction for the year ahead.

The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Anoupharp Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and co-chaired by H.E. Ms. Heather Variava, Ambassador of the United States to Lao PDR, and Ms. Martine Thérer, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lao PDR – each underscoring the importance of strong partnerships in advancing UXO clearance, risk education, and victim assistance.

Mr. Bounpheng Sisawath, Director of the NRA, presented a comprehensive update on the UXO/Mine Action sector’s performance. Between January and June 2025 the sector surveyed 9,413 hectares of land, confirmed 6,984 hectares as hazardous, and cleared 2,717 hectares across 14 provinces-providing safe access to land and unlocking opportunities for farming, infrastructure development, and livelihoods. A total of 35,446 UXO were destroyed, including over 16,000 cluster munitions. Risk education reached 181,531 people in 11 provinces, strengthening their ability to recognize threats, adopt safer behaviors, and prevent accidents. Assistance was also provided to 172,109 UXO survivors, enabling them to regain mobility, rebuild confidence, and resume independent lives. While celebrating this progress, participants acknowledged that annual sectoral targets will be difficult to achieve, though, as a result of funding reductions and temporary budget cuts in the first half of the year.

From January to June 2025, seven UXO accidents occurred in four provinces resulting in 12 casualties, including four fatalities. The fact that 67% of the victims were children underscores the critical importance of enhancing targeted risk education prioritizing at-risk populations, such as children and adult men, alongside expediting clearance efforts in high priority areas. UXO accidents are a stark reminder that contamination continues to endanger lives and disrupt development, especially for the most vulnerable.

Discussions focused on sustaining momentum from the previous year, which marked the highest level of land clearance in Lao PDR’s history, as well as on deepening coordination efforts across sectors. Priorities for the next five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (10^th NSEDP 2026-2030) were discussed, including the need to reinforce the linkages between UXO action and local development.

Participants expressed support for Lao PDR’s leadership and commitments at the global level, including its role as Country Coordinator for Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and anticipated Presidency of the 3^rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). Technical Working Groups on clearance, risk education, information management and victim assistance shared updates and priorities in 2025.

The Chair of the meeting, H.E. Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration and international solidarity. He reaffirmed Lao PDR’s commitment to working with all relevant partners to deliver concrete actions and achieve tangible results in support of shared objectives and the improved efficiency and effectiveness of the UXO/Mine Action sector. He also emphasized the need to strengthen both horizontal and vertical coordination mechanisms—from the central to the local level—and highlighted the vital role of the National Regulatory Authority in reinforcing national ownership, fostering cooperation and assistance, promoting transparency, and ensuring a more sustainable and resilient approach to UXO/Mine Action. These efforts, he noted, are essential for securing a sustainable path for socio-economic development in the years ahead.

In the area of partnership and collaboration was also echoed by H.E. Ms. Heather Variava, Ambassador of the United States to Lao PDR, particularly it has led to the achievement made in the previous year, in terms of UXO clearance, 2024 set a new annual record, with 5,600 hectares cleared by U.S.-funded operators.

Ms. Thérer, UNDP Resident Representative, also underlined the importance of advancing towards sustainable and nationally owned solutions, highlighting the role of the humanitarian demining teams of the Lao People’s Army, and the need to further integrate UXO action with local development goals, while diversifying sources of financing.

The meeting was organized with the generous support of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

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