More than fifty years after the major conflicts of the 20th century ended, Laos continues to face consequences that have never truly faded. Beneath farmland, forests, and even household yards, millions of buried bombs remain silently embedded, posing a very real and ongoing threat.
This reality has led Laos to be known as the most heavily bombed country in the world on a per capita basis, a historical legacy that continues to claim victims to this day.
This issue is not merely a matter of the past, but a daily reality. An estimated 80 million unexploded ordnance (UXO) items are still scattered across large parts of the country.
These remnants of war continue to restrict people’s movement, slow development, and place civilians—especially children—at constant risk.
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Bombing Without a Declared War
Between 1964 and 1973, Laos was subjected to massive aerial bombardment by the United States.
The campaign was carried out as part of a military strategy to disrupt North Vietnamese communist supply routes passing through Lao territory. However, the operation was conducted in secrecy and without any formal declaration of war against Laos.
Over the course of nine years, more than two million tons of bombs were dropped on the country. The scale was extraordinary: on average, a full bomb load was released every eight minutes for nearly a decade.
Most of the weapons used were cluster bombs—munitions designed to disperse into hundreds of smaller submunitions. Approximately one-third of these bomblets failed to detonate, leaving behind a latent danger that has persisted across generations.
As a result, Laos today harbors millions of live explosives beneath its soil, with roughly 30 percent of the country’s territory still affected.
Until now, UXO clearance efforts are concentrated in the nine most heavily impacted provinces: Huaphan, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhuang, Khammuane, Savannakhet, Salavan, Sekong, Champasak, and Attapeu.
Life on Dangerous Ground
Since the war ended in 1975, an estimated 20,000 people in Laos have been reported killed or seriously injured by UXO explosions. Data show that around 40 percent of the victims are children, who often encounter small bomblets while playing or helping their families in the fields.
For many rural communities, the most basic daily activities are also the most dangerous. Farming, digging soil, collecting firewood, and herding livestock can all trigger explosions.
In a country where much of the population relies on subsistence agriculture and monthly incomes in some areas amount to only a few tens of dollars, the option to simply “avoid” contaminated land is often nonexistent.
UXO contamination also has a direct impact on national development. Infrastructure projects—ranging from irrigation systems and roads to schools and hospitals—must undergo specialized surveys before construction can begin. If explosives are discovered, projects are frequently delayed or even cancelled.
Slow Clearance and Shrinking Aid
UXO clearance efforts in Laos have come under increasing strain since 20 January 2025, when the United States froze foreign aid through an executive order. The policy suspended funding from USAID and the U.S. State Department for a 90-day review by the Department of Government Efficiency.
However, as of January 2026, there has been no confirmation that the policy will be lifted, leaving many UXO-related projects in Laos disrupted as funding remains on hold.
According to the Center for Global Development, around 72 percent of USAID’s project portfolio in Laos—valued at approximately US$20.5 million—has been placed on the termination list. Of all the projects under review, only one maternal and child health program is expected to continue.
The impact of this policy is particularly significant because Laos is the largest recipient of official development assistance per capita in Southeast Asia. Aid cuts are expected to directly affect basic services and vulnerable populations, especially in rural areas.
In the context of UXO, the United States has long been the principal donor. Since 1995, the U.S. has provided more than US$390 million for bomb clearance, safety education, and support for victims and survivors.
This funding has been channeled primarily through the U.S. State Department rather than USAID. However, it has also been halted since January 2025, and there remains no clarity on whether or when it will resume.
A Future Still Bound to the Past
Data from UXO Lao as of April 2025 show that thousands of explosive devices have been neutralized, hundreds of hectares of land cleared, and tens of thousands of people provided with risk education.
However, these achievements remain minimal when measured against the scale of the problem. After more than 30 years of clearance efforts, only about 2–3 percent of contaminated land has been made safe.
At the current pace, Laos estimates that it will not be completely free from the threat of UXO until the year 2125. This means that several future generations will continue to live under the shadow of a war they never experienced.
The story of Laos serves as a powerful reminder that the consequences of conflict do not end when the guns fall silent. In this country, history is not confined to museums or textbooks—it is buried in the ground, waiting, threatening, and continuing to shape the lives of millions of people to this day.
