Lao PDR

UNDP News

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to help clear UXOs

13 November 2006- The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has officially announced its contribution US$ 2 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the UXO Programme in Lao PDR at a signing ceremony held on 13 November 2006.

Setsuko Yamazaki, UNDP Deputy said at the signing ceremony said “ The correlation between poverty in rural communities and UXO contamination in Lao PDR is obvious, and therefore eliminating UXO would substantially help removing many of the obstacles to social and economic progress and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”

The funding from SDC will support the on-going efforts to remove UXO from the country. Switzerland 's agency for development has generously agreed to support both the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for the UXO Sector and UXO Lao, the national UXO clearance agency.

The NRA is a newly established government agency, which coordinates activities of operators working in the UXO/Mine removal sector Lao PDR. This money will be used to strengthen the NRA to coordinate efforts by all operators in UXO removal.

For more than 10 years, UXO Lao, supported by the Government of Lao PDR and UNDP has been removing UXO from the country. Now this funding will help UXO Lao to increase its national capacity and expertise for UXO clearance at the same time increase it's productivity.

Ms. Yamazaki continued “ the support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will greatly contribute to the government's efforts to respond to the needs of the affected communities and release much needed land more quickly.”