THE MESSAGE FROM CHILDREN IN LAOS

"Give us a life free from cluster bombs!"


US forces dropped cluster bombs on Laos from 1966 to 1975 to stem the tide of North Vietnamese troops, who were infiltrating South Vietnam through Laos. Fifteeen of the country's 17 provinces were targeted. Based on records released by the US Air Force in 1999, an estimated 277 million bomblets were dropped on Laos even if Laos was not a part of the world.

Today, 40 years after, there are still over 80 million unexploded bomblets. When released, cluster bombs split open, dispersing hundreds of 'bomblets', designed to scatter and kill within an area up to the size of two football fields. One bomblet alone has a kill radius of 30m.

Norwegian People's Aid and other organisations clear areas for bomblets - but it will take 800 years (!) to finish the work.

This little boy and all people in Laos deserve a better future.

YESTERDAYS BACKBLIP: CLUSTER BOMBS CLEARANCE


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