Impact of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) on Rural Communities' Livelihoods

30 years of Indochinese War resulted in 580000 bombing missions over Laos dropped in excess of two million tons of ordnance which gives Lao PDR the distinction of being one of the most heavily bombed nations per capital in the world. Around 30% of dropped ordnance did not explode (Khamvongsa & Russell 2009; Shoemaker 1994). Unexploded ordnance (UXO) continues killing and injuring people more than 30 years (Sisawath 2006). The presence of UXO has affected 15 of 18 administrative areas (UXO Lao) which 9 provinces are considered to be the most heavily UXO contaminated areas (Sisawath 2006). UXO contamination has significant effects on ability of the population to maintain suitable livelihoods and has caused many accidents in a these provinces Laos (Shoemaker 1994).Through this research in particular location it gives readers better understanding from UXO’s impact on livelihoods of coping strategy used for handling with difficulties and on how national policy around UXO could be improved to address these difficulties and strengthen coping mechanisms.