Norway increase their involvement in clearing Laos of old cluster bombs

Unexploded cluster munition. Photo: Seabifar @ WikiCommons
Unexploded cluster munition. Photo: Seabifar @ WikiCommons

An agreement that Norway will use NOK 6 million on defusing cluster munition in Laos was signed by the Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende and his Laotian counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Oslo Monday the 6th October.

Even though it has been more than 40 years since the cluster bombs were used in Cambodia, old undetonated explosives from cluster bombs is still a threat to civilians in Laos. According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2013, 50 people were injured or killed by cluster munition in Laos.

“Norway and Laos have a longstanding and good collaboration when it comes to this area, and today’s new agreement is a confirmation and solidification of our future collaboration. We are allocating 6 million Norwegian Kroner,  which will be used directly in the work of detonating cluster munition,” the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Børge Brende, says in a press release.

The deal is valid until 2020 and the money will be used to map and clear areas from the hidden danger.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *